Part 33 (1/2)
”What good would that do?”
”Why, then I should know.”
”Know what?”
”Whether I didn't really ca'e for him any more--or so much.”
”Clementina,” said Miss Milray, ”you mustn't make me lose patience with you--”
”No. But I thought you said that it was my duty to do what I wished.”
”Well, yes. That is what I said,” Miss Milray consented. ”But I supposed that you knew already.”
”No,” said Clementina, candidly, ”I don't believe I do.”
”And what if you don't see him?”
”I guess I shall have to wait till I do. The'e will be time enough.”
Miss Milray sighed, and then she laughed. ”You ARE young!”
x.x.xII.
Miss Milray went from Clementina to call upon her sister-in-law, and found her brother, which was perhaps what she hoped might happen.
”Do you know,” she said, ”that that old wretch is going to defraud that poor thing, after all, and leave her money to her husband's half-sister's children?”
”You wish me to infer the Mrs. Lander--Clementina situation?” Milray returned.
”Yes!”
”I'm glad you put it in terms that are not actionable, then; for your words are decidedly libellous.”
”What do you mean?”
”I've just been writing Mrs. Lander's will for her, and she's left all her property to Clementina, except five thousand apiece to the half-sister's three children.”
”I can't believe it!”
”Well,” said Milray, with his gentle smile, ”I think that's safe ground for you. Mrs. Lander will probably have time enough to change her will as well as her mind several times yet before she dies. The half-sister's children may get their rights yet.”
”I wish they might!” said Miss Milray, with an impa.s.sioned sigh. ”Then perhaps I should get Clementina--for a while.”
Her brother laughed. ”Isn't there somebody else wants Clementina?
”Oh, plenty. But she's not sure she wants anybody else.”
”Does she want you?”
”No, I can't say she does. She wants to go home.”