Part 38 (1/2)
”Antic.i.p.ated your allowance a little? Well, well, how much do you need?”
he asked indulgently.
”I don't exactly know; not much,” I cried eagerly, ”I haven't asked Father to send it all at once. Two or three thousand dollars would be a great help--for the present.”
”Two or three thousand! Is it little Nelly Wins.h.i.+p who is talking about thousands? And what important scheme has she in mind?”
His tone was playful.
”To pay my bills.'”
”Bills aggregating thousands?” He dropped his paper cutter sharply. ”Is it possible that in so short a time--if the recital be not too painful, pray explain.”
”Oh, it's simple enough; the dressmaker would say: 'Do let me make you this, it's such a pleasure to fit you;' or, 'That would be the rage, if you'd introduce it.' And Mrs. Van Dam begged me to buy a hat from a protegee just starting in business, because it would be a help to have the beautiful Miss Wins.h.i.+p for a customer. It did help the milliner, too, for I bought three and they were printed in the papers. But she wants her pay just as if it hadn't been worth the price twice over as an advertis.e.m.e.nt.
And all the things for the flat--”
”Furniture?”
”Why, yes; we've rearranged the place and I've contributed a little. Uncle Timothy, you can see--I need more money than other women. I can't walk without attracting notice, and cab hire or a carriage by the month--and-- and I can't shop for myself, you don't know what a difference that makes; and--oh, everything is different! Why, I've just had my portrait painted.
But Father isn't a poor man.” ”He is poor, measured by New York standards. And he is sending you a great deal of money.”
”Yes, but--I must have a _lot_ more.”
The Judge frowned slowly, considering what he had heard. Finally he said, slowly shaking his head:--
”Doubtless we should have warned you, upon your coming to New York, but I did not antic.i.p.ate that one of your substantial Western stock would develop habits of extravagance; nor were they apparent while you were with us. I cannot think it was altogether our fault, and certainly it was not your father's. I am not unmindful of the recent unsettling experiences which furnish excuse for confusion of ideas; but, Nelly, I appeal to a head that should be logical, even if--I have never thought it giddy with adulation--to see the facts as they exist. You must yield to your aunt's wish and return to her or to Marcia--”
”Impossible!”
”--you must bring me your bills; doubtless we can give up the furniture--”
”Give it up!”
The coolly spoken words struck to my heart. Why, we had just finished arranging it! But he misunderstood my exclamation, and added:--
”I comprehend your reluctance, and I confess that I should little like to advise returning goods bought in good faith, if there were any chance of payment; but--let me see; are you of age?”
”Why, yes; just twenty-one.”
”Is it possible? How time pa.s.ses, to be sure! Yet--ah, the point is not important; the tradespeople should not have trusted you. Consider that you are unable to pay; the less of two evils is to return the goods as soon as possible, that they may be received undamaged.”
”Oh, it's not so bad as that?” I said hastily. ”Nearly everybody is willing to wait, and I--you know Aunt Frank doesn't want me, and I should be a--white elephant to Miss Baker. I must live somewhere. It's not my fault if my only friends are rich, and if I--but why can't Father--”
”I do not believe your father can pay your debts,” he interrupted, ”in addition to the generous sums he has already forwarded, unless--surely you were not suggesting that he should mortgage the farm in order to--pay for paintings?”
”I didn't mean that at all!” I cried; ”I never thought of that. But how _do_ people--”
”You and I must do what is to be done, if possible without distressing him,” he said; ”your father is not so young as he once was. If you have bought things for which your allowance will not pay, although”--he hesitated a moment, ”--the situation is--ah--trying to Mrs. Whitney. I suppose her half of the common stock is secure?”
”Her half!”