Perhaps they might convince you--"
"No, they wouldn't!" cried Susie. "Your word is all I need; you've
explained things so clearly."
"Thank you," he said, in a vibrant voice, still looking at her.
"Besides," she added, with a glance upward, "dad agrees with you, and
I've a great deal of faith in dad."
"I shall be very glad of your help on any terms," he said, refusing to
be cast down.
"And you will tell me if anything unexpected happens? I may be able to
help you more than you think."
"Yes," he promised, "I will tell you the moment I have any news."
"You haven't any real news--about the undercurrent, I mean? You don't
_really_ know--"
"No; it is just in the air; I do not know where the rumours come from,
but my aunt has heard them also. There is a vague impression that we
are losing."
"But you shan't lose!" cried Susie. "You shan't lose; not even if I have
to--to--"
"Not even if you have to--?" prompted the Prince, eagerly, as she
stammered and stopped.
"To play my trump card," she finished, with a little unsteady laugh.
"Don't ask me what it is, but it's a good one!"
* * * * *
Meanwhile, as she walked beside the invalid chair, Nell was making her
confession.
"Lord Vernon," she began, in a low voice, "for a time last night, I
feared that I had utterly ruined your cause.
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