Not only did he feel
instinctive confidence in her sense of fair play; but also this
relationship of interest in his affairs, established by her, was the
opportunity of his closest approach; an intimacy of spirit assured and
subtle. He hoped that she would come early on Saturday evening.
But she did not. Some dinner party had claimed her, and it was after
eleven when she arrived with Archie Densmore. At once Banneker took her
aside and laid before her the whole matter.
"Poor Ban!" she said softly. "It isn't so simple, having power to play
with, is it?"
"But how am I to handle this?"
"The mills belong to Mr. Marrineal's mother, you said?"
"Practically they do."
"And she is--?"
"A silly and vain old fool."
"Is that his opinion of her?"
"Necessarily. But he's fond of her."
"Will he really try to remedy conditions, do you think?"
"Oh, yes. So far as that goes."
"Then I'd drop it."
"Print nothing at all?"
"Not a word."
"That isn't what I expected from you. Why do you advise it?"
"Loyalty."
"The paralytic virtue," said Banneker with such bitterness of conviction
that Io answered:
"I suppose you don't mean that to be simply clever."
"It's true, isn't it?"
"There's a measure of truth in it.
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