Part 39 (2/2)
Oh, the relief that surged over Robert Morton! Joy rioted with shame, happiness with self-reproach. How feeble his faith had been. He hoped Mr. Galbraith did not read in his eyes the suspicions he had cherished.
Apparently he did not, for in the same kindly manner he asked:
”Do you think it would be better to keep the secret from the little old chap a bit longer or tell him now?”
”Oh, tell him now! Tell him now!” cried Bob. ”Tell him right away when we get back!”
His companion laughed at his eagerness and for the first time their eyes met.
”And now, sir,” began Robert Morton, a ring of buoyancy and light-heartedness in his voice such as had not sounded in it for weeks, ”I have a surprise for you. I, too, am going to be married.”
The car swerved suddenly as if a tremor had pa.s.sed through the hands on the wheel.
”I am engaged to your niece, Mr. Galbraith.”
”To my--my niece!” repeated the great man blankly. ”I don't think I quite--”
”To Delight Hathaway.”
Bob saw a dull brick-red flush color the neck of the capitalist and steal up into his face. For a moment he seemed at a loss for words.
Then presently, as if he had succeeded in readjusting his ideas, he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed:
”My word, Bob! Well, you young people have mixed yourselves up nicely!
However, if you all are happy, that is the main thing; you are the ones to be suited. We shall still have you in the family, anyway.” He laughed. ”And about the property,” he went on thoughtfully,--”this simplifies matters greatly, for it won't make much difference now which of you has it--you or the girl.”
But Bob stopped him with a quick protest.
”I don't want Delight to know Madam Lee's money has previously been willed to me,” he said. ”If she suspected that, she would never take it. You are not to tell her--promise me you will see to that.”
”Of course I will arrange the affair any way you wish,” Mr. Galbraith agreed, with a dubious frown. ”But if you are to marry her, I really can't see what difference it would make.”
”It will make a great deal of difference,” declared the younger man.
”In the one case the fortune will be hers to use as she pleases. She will have the independent right to hand it over to the Brewsters if she so desires. Our entire relation will be placed on another basis; for if I marry her under those conditions I marry an heiress, not the ward of a poor fisherman.”
”I hadn't thought of that.”
”On the other hand, if she refuses the money, it will be mine to lay at her feet. Can't you see what a vast contrast there will be in my position?”
Mr. Galbraith nodded thoughtfully as if considering the matter from a new angle.
”That's the only reason the fortune would mean anything to me--that I might have something to offer her,” continued Robert Morton. ”Of course, as you said, she would have the benefit of the money in either case; but it makes a difference whether it comes to her by the mere right of inheritance, or whether she takes it from her--husband.”
”There is a distinction,” admitted the elder man. ”Now that you call my attention to it, I can see that readily. It is a delicate one, but its consequences are far-reaching. Well, you shall have your way! A proportion of the legacy shall be offered to Delight, and the secret regarding it shall be yours to keep or divulge as you see fit. You are a n.o.ble fellow, Bob. I only wish--” He checked the impulsive phrase that rose to his lips but not before the listener had caught its import.
”Mr. Snelling is a fine man, Mr. Galbraith,” broke in Bob instantly, dreading the words that might follow.
”Oh, I know it--there is no question about that,” the capitalist a.s.sented with haste. ”Success is written all over his future, and I know he will be a son-in-law to be proud of. He and Cynthia are royally happy too, and no doubt know better than I what they want.
After all, none of us can live other people's lives; each must work out his own.”
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