"
"Um-hm. I got it. It didn't surprise me, what you wrote, because I'd
seen the news in the papers; but I was hopin' you'd tell me yourself,
and I'm real glad you did. I'm much obliged to you."
She had not expected him to take this tone, and it embarrassed her.
"I--I gave you my reasons for writing," she said. "Although I do not
consider that I am, in any sense, duty bound to refer matters, other
than financial, to you; and, although my feelings toward you have not
changed--still, you are my guardian, and--and--"
"I understand. So you're really engaged?"
"Yes."
"Engaged to Mr. Dunn?"
"Yes."
"And you're cal'latin' to marry him?"
"One might almost take that for granted," impatiently.
"Almost--yes. Not always, but generally, I will give in. You're goin' to
marry Malcolm Dunn. Why?"
"Why?" she repeated the question as if she doubted his sanity.
"Yes. Be as patient with me as you can, Caroline. I ain't askin' these
things without what seems to me a good reason. Why are you goin' to
marry him?"
"Why because I choose, I suppose."
"Um-hm. Are you sure of that?"
"Am I sure?" indignantly. "What do you mean?"
"I mean are you sure that it's because you choose, or because HE does,
or maybe, because his mother does?"
She turned angrily away.
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