I don't
believe he'd hesitate for a moment."
Ruth looked her husband in the face. There was a curious expression in
her eyes.
"Do you think that it would be wise of me to ask him?" she demanded.
"Why not?" he answered. "You can take care of yourself. I can trust
you."
"I told you that I was afraid of Wingrave," she reminded him. "I can
take care of myself as a rule--and I do--as you know. I have elected
to be one of the unfashionables in that respect. But to ask Wingrave
for money is more than I dare do."
"Then I shall ask him myself," Barrington declared.
She picked up her gloves and turned to leave the room.
"I should prefer even that," she said.
GUARDIAN AND WARD
"Up to the present, then," Wingrave remarked, "the child has no idea
as to who has been responsible for the charge of her?"
"No idea at all, Sir Wingrave," the lawyer declared. "Your wishes have
been strictly carried out, most strictly. She imagines that it is some
unknown connection of her father. But, as I explained to you in my
letter, she has recently exhibited a good deal of curiosity in the
matter. She is--er--a young lady of considerable force of character
for her years, and her present attitude--as I explained in my
letter--is a trifle difficult."
Wingrave was sitting in the lawyer's own chair. Mr. Pengarth, who was
a trifle nervous, preferred to stand.
"She shows, I think, a certain amount of ingratitude in forcing this
journey and explanation upon me," Wingrave declared coldly.
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