Here was an ally to his hand; he could not doubt it; and if he failed to win he would deserve to lose.
The old squire had no sooner left the room than the visitor laid the first lines for his attack.
Why was she surprised to see him?
He had large interests in the mountains, and could she doubt that if he was within a thousand miles he would come by to see her?
The mantling cheeks and dancing eyes showed that this took effect.
"Oh, you came down on business?
That was all! I know," she said.
Wickersham looked her in the eyes.
Business was only a convenient excuse.

Old Halbrook could have attended to the business; but he preferred to come himself.

Possibly she could guess the reason?
He looked handsome and sincere enough as he leant over and gazed in her face to have beguiled a wiser person than Phrony.
She, of course, had not the least idea.
Then he must tell her.

To do this he found it necessary to sit on the sofa close to her.

What he told her made her blush very rosy again, and stammer a little as she declared her disbelief in all he said, and was sure there were the prettiest girls in the world in New York, and that he had never thought of her a moment.