Chapter XI: Part 11

“Going away?” he broke out passionately; “you couldn’t drive me away with an axe! I’m going to stay forever, and let you make a complete man of me. We’ll _marry_ your father’s share of the Ocoee back to him, and together we’ll make a man of your brother. There are a million other things to say, but Hartridge is coming to look for his chauffeur and I must take him back to Highmount. Richardia--sweetheart!... If I don’t wreck the car on the way it will be a miracle.”

Very gently she disengaged herself. “You--you needn’t smother a person,” she protested, with the quaint little grimace that he loved. And then: “That is father, calling me to go to brother. Please heap some more coals of fire and be good to Professor Billy--for the sake of his loyalty to me and mine.... Yes, daddy, dear; I’m coming.”

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