He heartily damned this fellow Sloane for breaking into the family and asking poor Laura to risk her whole life--just for his own selfish pleasure, his whim! Yes, "whim" was the very word for it! Laura's attitude, too! Did she look at it seriously?
Not at all! Quite plainly she saw her career as one long Highland fling and dance, with this Harry boy as her partner! Who had he danced with in his past?
The fellow's past must be gone into, and at once, without delay! Here indeed was a jolt for Roger Gale, a pretty shabby trick of fate.

This was not what he had planned, this was a little way life had of jabbing a man with surprises.

For months he had been slowly and comfortably feeling his way into the lives of his children, patiently, conscientiously.

But now without a word of warning in popped this young whipper-snapper, turning the whole house upside down! Another young person to be known, another life to be dug into, and with pick and shovel too! The job was far from pleasant.

Would Deborah help him?
Not at all.