That's about the size of
it."
"Sylvester!" Caroline had never seen her uncle thoroughly angry before;
"Sylvester," he cried, "have you--Have you dast to tell her what you
shouldn't? Didn't you promise me? If you told that girl, I'll--I'll--"
His niece stepped forward. "Hush, Uncle Elisha," she said. "He didn't
tell me until I knew already. I guessed it. Then I asked for the whole
truth, and he told me."
"The whole truth? CAROLINE!"
He wrung his hands.
"Yes, Uncle, the whole truth. I know you now. I thought I knew you
before; but I didn't--not half. I do now."
"Oh, Caroline!" he stepped toward her and then stopped, frantic and
despairing. "Caroline! Caroline!" he cried again, "can you ever forgive
me? You know--you must know I ain't ever meant to keep it. It's all
yours. I just didn't give it to you right off because... because... Oh,
Sylvester, tell her I never meant to keep it! Tell her!"
The lawyer shook his head. "I did tell her," he said, with another
shrug, "and she tells me she won't accept it."
"What?" the captain's eyes were starting from his head. "What? Won't
take it? Why, it's hers--hers and Steve's! It always has been! Do you
cal'late I'd rob my own brother's children? DON'T talk so foolish! I
won't hear such talk!"
Caroline was close to tears, but she was firm.
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