Part 13 (1/2)
Morley nodded. ”Very ironical, isn't it?” he said. ”She was always talking and hoping for the money, and now when it comes she is unable to enjoy it. What tricks Fate plays us to be sure!”
”Poor girl!” sighed Giles; ”how often have we discussed the prospect of her being an heiress! I always told her that I had enough for both, but she hankered after having money in her own right.”
”Look at the papers,” said Morley, handing them to the young man, ”and you will see that Powell died over four months ago in Sydney. His solicitors arranged about the estate in the colony of New South Wales, and then communicated with Asher as Powell had advised them before he died. There is a copy of the will there.”
”So I see. But tell me the chief points in it. I feel too tired to wade through all this legal matter.”
”Well, the money was left to Daisy, and failing her it goes to a man called George Franklin.”
”H'm! He has come in for his kingdom very speedily, thanks to the death of poor Daisy. Who is he?”
Morley glanced at a letter. ”He was the brother-in-law of Mr.
Powell--married Powell's sister who is dead. I don't know if there is any family. Asher's firm doesn't know the whereabouts of Franklin, but they are advertising for him. The five thousand a year goes to him without reservation.”
”Why did they tell you all this?”
”I really can't say, unless it is because I was Daisy's legal guardian.
I wish she had come in for this money, Ware, for I do not say but what I shouldn't have been glad of a trifle. And if Daisy had lived she would have paid me something. Certainly as I did what I did do out of sheer friends.h.i.+p with her father, I have no right to demand anything, but when Franklin hears of my circ.u.mstances I hope he will lend me some money to get me out of my difficulties.”
”It all depends upon the kind of man he turns out to be. But I always thought, Morley, that it was your wife to whom Kent left his daughter.
She was an old friend of his.”
”Quite so; but Kent appointed me guardian, as Mrs. Morley refused to be legally bound. I am sure I did my duty,” added the little man, with sudden heat.
”I am sure you did. You behaved like a father to her, and I am sorry she did not live to repay you.” Giles thought for a moment or so, then added, ”I was engaged to Daisy, and I am rich. Let me help you, Morley.”
”No, thanks. It is good of you to suggest such a thing, but I am a very independent man. If this Franklin will do anything, I don't mind accepting a thousand from him; otherwise--no, Ware.”
Giles admired the bluff way in which Morley said this. He knew well that for a long time Morley and his wife had done all they could for Daisy Kent, and that both of them deserved great praise. He suggested that Mrs. Morley might be induced----
”No,” interrupted his visitor, ”my wife wants nothing. She has her own money, and ample means.”
”Then why don't you ask for her help?”
”My dear Ware, I married Mrs. Morley because I loved her, and not for her money. All her property is settled on herself, and I have not touched one s.h.i.+lling of it. She would willingly help me, but I have refused.”
”Isn't that rather quixotic on your part?”
”Perhaps,” responded Morley, with some dryness; ”but it is my nature.
However, I see that I am tiring you. I only came to tell you of this irony of fate, whereby Daisy inherited a fortune too late to benefit by it. I must go now. My wife expects me back in Brighton to-morrow.”
”When do you return to The Elms?”
”In a month. And what are your movements?”
Ware thought for a few minutes before he answered. At length he spoke seriously.