"About the scandal. Do you remember a man who came to see you--why
he should have come to you I don't know--with a story about his
sister?"
"East was the name. Yes, Ronnie told me all about it. The man is a
blackmailer and his sister was not much better. Ronnie had shown a
kindness to the girl, he met her at some--some mission or other.
Ronnie does queer things like that--and he gave her some money to go
on a holiday. That was all."
"Humph--ready?"
"But, daddy, don't you believe Ronnie?" She was desperately anxious
to consolidate her own faith.
"I don't know. Ronnie is a queer fellow--"
He was ready to go; his overcoat was over his arm and yet he
lingered. She guessed he would say something more about Ronald
Morelle and was stiffening to defend him, but she was mistaken.
"Beryl, you are twenty-two and very beautiful. I may be biased but I
hardly think I am. I have seen many lovely women in my life and you
could hold your own with any of them. Do you ever think of getting
married?"
She tried hard to control herself, but the color in her face deepened
and faded.
"I haven't thought much about it," she said. "There are two parties
to a marriage, daddy."
"Are you fond of anybody? I mean are you, in your heart--committed
to any one man?"