Page:Georgie by Dorothea Deakin, 1906.djvu/285

When the Girls Came Out tell him. I thought—Georgie always comes to you for advice, doesn't he? I thought perhaps when he did come, you might point out to him, point out to him—"

Her steady voice faltered.

"Yes?" said I gravely.

"That it might be the wisest thing he could do for his mother's sake and his own. Martin," her earnest voice touched me, "we all love Georgie. Everybody does. He is so young and kind and strong. He is a kind of Prince Charming, you see, and one can't help wanting him to be happy. I used to lecture him, and try to influence his mind, but I don't want to do any stupid thing like that, now. I only want—" She stopped with a choking sound.

This from Anne!

"I will put the case to Georgie," said I gently, and held out my hand to her across the table. "Very strongly." Perhaps it was not quite the first time that I had felt my old opinion of her shaken, but it was certainly the first time I had wanted to help her to her ends. Anne's brown 269