Obviously the enterprise was not directed at some gross victim whose
palate might permit his swallowing anything. If any one item
essentially proved this, it was the item of the overwhelmingly
respectable chaperon. Maggie was being presented as an innocent,
respectable, young girl; and the victim, whoever he was, was the type
of man for whom only such a type of girl would have a compelling
appeal.
And this man--who was he? Ever and again he tried to place the man's
voice, with its faintly familiar quality, but it kept dodging away
like a dream one cannot quite recall.
The whole business made Larry rage within himself. Maggie to be used
in such a way! He did not blame Maggie, for he understood her. Also he
loved her. She was young, proud, willful, had been trained to regard
such adventures as colorful and legitimate; and had not lived long
enough for experience to teach her otherwise. No, Maggie was not to
blame. But Old Jimmie! He would like to twist Old Jimmie's neck! But
then Old Jimmie was Maggie's father; and the mere fact of Old Jimmie
being Maggie's father would, he knew, safeguard the old man from his
wrath even were he at liberty to go forth and act.
He cursed his enforced seclusion. If only he were free to go out and
do his best in the open! But then, even if he were, his best endeavors
would have little influence upon Maggie--with her despising and
distrusting him as she did, and with her so determined to go ahead in
her own way.
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