24/33 She defied her mother, openly declaring that she would marry you in spite of everything." "And that is just what she shall do, poor girl," cried Braden joyously. When I discovered that young Wintermill couldn't be depended upon to rescue his best friend, I stepped into the arena, so to speak," said Mr.Thorpe with fine irony. "I sensed the situation perfectly. Percy was young and strong and enduring. He would be a long time dying in the natural order of things. |