It is bad enough that we should be disgraced; but you must not be.""My dear child, I THINK my position in society is sufficiently established to warrant a risk or two. If _I_ am seen in company with--with the encumbrance, people will merely say, 'Oh, it's another of her eccentricities!' that's all. Now, don't worry, and don't fret all that pretty color from your cheeks. Always remember this: it is but for a year or a trifle over. Then you will be of age and can send your encumbrance to the right-about in a hurry."Caroline, under the spell of this convincing eloquence, began to cheer up. She even smiled.
"Well," she said, "I will try to be diplomatic. I really will.
But Stephen--I'm not sure what dreadful thing HE will do.""He will return to college soon. I will take upon myself the convincing of the encumbrance to that effect. And while he is at home, Malcolm will take charge of him. He will be delighted to do it.""Mrs. Dunn, how can we ever thank you sufficiently? What should we do without you and Malcolm?""I HOPE, my dear, that you will never have to do without me; not for many years, at any rate. Of course, there is always my poor heart, but--we won't worry, will we?"So, with a kiss and an embrace, this affecting interview ended.
There was another that evening between Mrs. Dunn and her son, which was not devoid of interest. Malcolm listened to the information which his mother gave him, and commented upon it in characteristic fashion.
"Humph!" he observed, "two hundred and fifty thousand, instead of the two million you figured on, Mater! Two hundred and fifty thousand isn't so much, in these days.""No," replied his parent, sharply, "it isn't so much, but it isn't so little, either.""I suppose one can get along on it."
"Yes, one can. In fact, I know of two who are managing with a good deal less. Don't be any more of a fool than you can help, Malcolm.
The sum itself isn't small, and, besides, the Warrens are a family of standing. To be connected with them is worth a good deal.
There are infinite possibilities in it. Oh, if only I might live to see the day when tradespeople meant something other than nuisances to be dodged, I THINK I could die contented.""Caro's a decent sort of a girl," commented Malcolm, reflectively.
"She's a bright girl and an attractive one. Just now she is in a mood to turn to us, to you. But, for Heaven's sake, be careful!
She is delicate and sensitive and requires managing. She likes you. If only you weren't such a blunderer!""Much obliged, Mater. You're free with your compliments this evening. What's the trouble? Another 'heart'?
"No. My heart I can trust, up to certain limits. But I'm afraid of your head, just as I always was of your father's. And here's one more bit of advice: Be careful how you treat that country uncle.""The Admiral! Ho! ho! He's a card."
"He may be the trump that will lose us the trick. Treat him civilly; yes, even cordially, if you can. And DON'T insult him as you did the first time you and he met."The young man crossed his legs, and grunted in resignation.
"Well," he said, "it's going to be a confounded bore, but, at the very longest, it'll last but a year. Then Caro will be her own mistress.""Yes. But there are three hundred and sixty-five days in a year;remember that."
"All right, Mater. You can bet on me. The old hayseed and I will be bosom pals. Wait and see."The formalities at the lawyers' took some time. Captain Elisha was absent from the apartment the better part of the following two days. The evenings, however, he spent with his niece and nephew, and, if at all sensitive to sudden changes of the temperature, he must have noticed that the atmosphere of the library was less frigid. Caroline was not communicative, did not make conversation, nor was she in the least familiar; but she answered his questions, did not leave the room when he entered, and seemed inclined to accept his society with resignation, if not with enthusiasm. Even Stephen was less sarcastic and bitter. At times, when his new guardian did or said something which offended his highly cultivated sense of the proprieties, he seemed inclined to burst out with a sneer; but a quick "ahem!" or a warning glance from his sister caused him to remain silent and vent his indignation by kicking a footstool or barking a violent order at the unresisting Edwards.
Caroline and her brother had had a heart to heart talk, and, as a result, the all-wise young gentleman promised to make no more trouble than he could help.
"Though, by gad, Caro," he declared, "it's only for you I do it!
If I had my way the old butt-in should understand exactly what Ithink of him."
On Thursday, after luncheon, as Captain Elisha sat in his own room, reading a book he had taken from the library, there came a knock at the door.
"Come ahead in!" ordered the captain. Caroline entered. Her uncle rose and put down the book.
"Oh!" he exclaimed, "is it you? Excuse me. I thought 'twas the Commodore--Edwards, I mean. If I'd known you was comin' callin', Caroline, I shouldn't have been quite so bossy. Guess I'd have opened the door for you, instead of lettin' you do it yourself.""Thank you," answered his niece. "I came to see you on--I suppose you might call it business. At any rate, it is a financial matter.
I sha'n't detain you long."
Captain Elisha was a trifle disappointed.
"Oh," he said, "on business, was it? I hoped--I didn't know but you'd come just out of sociability. However, I'm mighty glad to see you, Caroline, no matter what it's for. That's a real becomin'
dress you've got on," he added, inspecting her admiringly. "Ideclare, you look prettier every time I see you. You favor your pa consider'ble; I can see it more and more. 'Bije had about all the good looks there was in our family," with a chuckle. "Set down, do."The girl seated herself in a rocker, and looked at him for a moment without speaking. She seemed to have something on her mind, and not to know exactly how to express it.