There!
that's the truth, and no hook underneath it. And some day you'll realize
it, too."
He had spoken with great vehemence. Now he took a handkerchief from his
pocket and wiped his forehead. When he again looked at his niece, he
found her staring intently at him; and her eyes blazed.
"Have you quite finished--now?" she demanded. "Steve, be quiet!"
"Why, yes, I guess so, pretty nigh. I s'pose there ain't much use to say
more. If I was to tell you that I've tried to do for you and Steve in
this--same as in everything else since I took this job--as if you
were my own children, you wouldn't believe it. If I was to tell you,
Caroline, that I'd come to think an awful lot of you, you wouldn't
believe that, either. I did hope that since our other misunderstandin'
was cleared up, and you found I wa'n't what you thought I was, you'd
come to me and ask questions afore passin' judgment; but perhaps--"
And now she interrupted, bursting out at him in a blast of scorn which
took his breath away.
"Oh, stop! stop!" she cried. "Don't say any more. You have insulted
father's memory, and defended the man who slandered him. Isn't that
enough? Why must you go on to prove yourself a greater hypocrite? We
learned, my brother and I, to-day more than the truth concerning your
FRIEND.
Pages:
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271