Mrs. Porter's mind had rebounded from its dazed condition after her husband's accident, and was now acute. All these thoughts came to her with rapidity, as Crane talked with masterly judgment.
To the mother's suggestion that he speak to Allis he put forward a plea of delicate consideration for the girl; he would rather deny himself; he would wait patiently until her mind was in a happier condition. Cleverly enough he knew that Mrs. Porter was now his ally, and would plead his cause with less chance of failure than if he startled Allis by the sudden fronting of life's great problem.
When Crane had gone Allis found her mother calmed by his visit; his assurances had driven away distressing clouds of financial worry.
Almost immediately Mrs. Porter transmitted to the girl what had come to her of Crane's declaration.
“It seems almost like an answer to my prayer,” she said to Allis; “not, of course”--she interrupted herself--“that I've been praying for a husband for you, but this wicked racing has warped the whole woof of my life; it seemed inevitable in the strength of its contaminating atmosphere that you would be wedded into it, though one were better dead than willingly choose a path of sin.”
“Then you've settled it, mother!” Allis's big eyes took on a dangerous look of rebellion.
“No, daughter; you must choose for yourself; only you will be wise not to go contrary to your parent's wishes. I did--”
“But you are not sorry, mother?” there was reproach in the girl's voice.
“Not for having wedded your father, but because of his racing life. I should have been firmer, and asked him to give it up before I married him. He might have done it then. Mr. Crane is a gentleman, Allis. That is a great deal nowadays, and he loves you most sincerely. Words often mean very little, but one can tell--at least when they've come to years of discretion they can--from a man's voice whether he is in earnest or not. I suppose it is very worldly to speak of his riches, but in poverty one can do very little, very little good. I had rather that you didn't have to look with misgiving into the future, Allis; it has taken much joy out of my existence. The dread of poverty is a nightmare; it wears one's life threadbare. To the young, buoyed up by confidence in the rosy future, this may seem sordid, but this feeling of insecurity mars many lives which might otherwise be happy.