As
he passed the smoking room he caught sight of Gerald seated in an
armchair by the window. He entered the room and took a seat
opposite the young fellow.
Gerald held out his hand silently, which the other took.
"I'm glad to hear it," said Gerald at last. "Very glad. I told you
I was on your side." He hesitated, then went on gravely: "Poor
Carroll is having a hard time, though. I think it's worse than she
expected. It's no worse than I expected. You are to be one of the
family, so I am going to give you a piece of advice. It's
something, naturally, I wouldn't speak of otherwise. But Carroll is
my only sister, and I want her to be happy. I think you are the man
to make her so, but I want you to avoid one mistake. Fight it out
right now, and never give back the ground you win."
"I feel that," replied Orde quietly.
"Mother made father resign from the army; and while he's a dear old
boy, he's never done anything since. She holds me--although I see
through her--possibly because I'm weak or indifferent, possibly
because I have a silly idea I can make a bad situation better by
hanging around. She is rapidly turning Kendrick into a sullen
little prig, because he believes implicitly all the grievances
against the world and the individual she pours out to him.
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