"Sit down, please," repeated Ben; and this time, without a word or a protest, he was obeyed.
Ben straightened in his seat, then leaned forward. "Mr. Baker," he said, "you do not doubt that I love Florence--that I wish nothing but her good?"
The thin face of the younger man leaned forward and grew more intense.
"You know what Sidwell is--what the result will be if Florence marries him?"
Scotty's head dropped into his hands. He knew what was coming.
Ben paused, and had the other been looking he would have seen that his ordinarily passive face was working in a way which no one would have thought possible.
"In heaven's name, then," he said, slowly, "why do you allow it? Have you forgotten that it is only three days until the date set? God! man, you must be sleeping! It is ghastly--even the thought of it!"
Surprised out of himself, Scotty looked up. The intensity of the appeal was a thing to put life into a figure of clay. For an instant he felt the stimulant, felt his blood quicken at the suggestion of action; then his impotence returned.
"I have tried, Ben," he explained weakly, "but I can do nothing. If I attempted to interfere it would only make matters worse. Florence is as completely out of my control as--" he paused for a simile--"as the sunshine. I missed my opportunity with her when she was young. She has always had her own way, and she will have it now. It is the same as when she decided to come to town. She controls me, not I her."
Blair settled back in his chair. The mask of impassivity dropped back over his face, not again to lift. He was again in command of himself.
"You expect to do nothing more, then?" he asked finally.
Scotty did not look up. "No," he responded. "I can do nothing more. She will have to find out her mistake for herself."
Ben regarded the older man steadily. It would have been difficult to express that look in words.
"You'd be willing to help, would you," he suggested, "if you saw a way?"
The Englishman's eyes lifted. Even the incredible took on an air of possibility in the hands of this strong-willed ranchman.
"Yes," he repeated. "I will gladly do anything I can."
For half a minute Ben Blair did not speak. Not a nerve twitched or a muscle stirred in his long body; then he stood up, the broad sinewy shoulders squared, the masterful chin lifted.