She had always tacitly taken for granted that it would be by her will
that the man should be waked up to the real state of his own mind. Even
after the evening of the dragon-skin frock he had not known the real
explanation of his amazement on her entrance, and had, she knew, merely
advanced in his perilous path to the point of realising that she was,
although his future daughter, an amazingly desirable woman.
So far she had read him correctly. But that something outside her own
personal sway should open his eyes she had not anticipated.
This had, however, happened, and with the acute intuition of a woman
fighting for her life, she understood what she must do to prevent his
flight.
So, turning towards him, she smiled amusedly.
"_Eh, b'en_, Beau-papa? Got over your fright? You big baby!"
He stared, and she went on without a pause, but speaking slowly, to give
an idea of leisure, "To think that you of all people should be afraid of
_thunder_! It was lucky you had your valorous daughter to shield you."
He gave a short, nervous laugh. "Yes, it is very idiotic, I know, but----"
"And then to bolt away into the very thick of it! That was because you
were _ashamed_! I shall tell _petite mere_ and Theo.
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