She could not tell him
that what he proposed was out of the question, though as yet that
was the light in which she saw it. His subtlety of approach had
made her feel justified in dealing with him in a matter-of-fact
way. He must see that she was not to be cajoled. Obviously, and
in the nature of the case, he was urging a proposal in which he
himself had all faith; but Marian knew his judgment was far from
infallible. It mitigated her sense of behaving unkindly to
reflect that in all likelihood this disposal of her money would
be the worst possible for her own interests, and therefore for
his. If, indeed, his dark forebodings were warranted, then upon
her would fall the care of him, and the steadiness with which she
faced that responsibility came from a hope of which she could not
speak.
'Name it as you will,' returned her father, hardly suppressing a
note of irritation. 'True, every commercial enterprise is a
speculation. But let me ask you one question, and beg you to
reply frankly. Do you distrust my ability to conduct this
periodical?'
She did.
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