Neale's right at my heels. I had hoped to have a little time alone with you to discuss my letter. You got it?"
"Yes."
"And we are both for Bobby?"
"No."
She saw his frown, his impatience. "Surely we are going to stand together, Hildegarde."
"I thought we stood together last night."
"Too impractical. I knew that as soon as I left you. Neither one of us could live in poverty and be happy. Hildegarde, do you know what you'll be letting me in for if you refuse to marry Gresham? For years Neale has been my old man of the sea. I've carried him on my back. And now that you have a chance to save me, you say coolly that you won't. I didn't dream you'd take this attitude. I thought it was settled. If I hadn't, I'd have stayed at home this morning, to try to make you see it."
"You can never make me see it."
There was no time for further argument. Winslow's voice sounded in the hall. "Give me a half-hour, gentlemen, and I'll have something to tell you."
He came in and shut the door. "They are like hounds at a kill," he said, with bitterness. Then, "Sorry we're late, Hildegarde. But we had tire trouble."
As she faced the two men they seemed to Hildegarde more than ever formidable. She was aware, suddenly, of the weakness of her defenses. Slight, unshielded, she was alone in this clash of arms.
Yet was she alone? Back of her was all the courage of the men and women of her mother's blood. For
