CHAPTER XVII
WHAT THE LETTER CONTAINED
Leaving the squire in the sitting room, Herbert went in quest of hismother.
“Squire Leech is here,” he said.
“What shall we say to him?” asked his mother, soberly.
“Wait a minute and I will tell you,” said Herbert, his face brightening.
“I’ve had a stroke of luck, mother. I’ve been engaged to workafternoons, at five dollars a week.”
“Who has engaged to pay you such high wages?” asked Mrs. Carter,astonished.
“A young man staying at the hotel, whose eyes are weak. I am to readto him, and do whatever else he requires. I got the chance through thelandlord.”
“You are certainly fortunate,” said his mother, gratified.
“Now, what I am going to propose to the squire is to wait two or threeweeks for the balance of the interest till I can make it up out of mywages.”
“If he weren’t so anxious to get possession of the place he would; but Iam afraid on that account he will refuse But we ought to go in.”
Mrs. Carter removed the apron which she had worn about her work, andentered the sitting room, followed by Herbert.
“I hope you will excuse my keeping you waiting, Squire Leech,” she said.
“Certainly, ma’am, though I am rather in a hurry.”
“I suppose you have come about the interest?”
“It is due to-day, as, of course, you know.”
“Yes.”
“I suppose you have it ready,” said the squire, eyeing her shrewdly.
“I can pay you fifteen dollars of it,” said the widow, nervously.
Squire Leech felt exultant, but he only frowned.
“It amounts to twenty-two dollars and a half,” he said, sharply.
“I know that, and I shall be able to pay the remainder if you will bekind enough to wait two or three weeks.”
Not knowing anything of Herbert’s good fortune, Squire Leech utterlydisbelieved this. He knew no source from which the widow could get themoney.
“It is easy enough to make promises,” he said, with a sneer, “but thatdoesn’t satisfy me. I want my money.”
Now Herbert felt it time for him to take part in the conversation.
“My mother can keep her promise,” he said.
“Can she? Perhaps you will explain where you expect to get the money.”
“From my wages,” answered Herbert, proudly.
“I wasn’t aware that you received any,” sneered the squire.
“I have just made an engagement to work for five dollars a week,” saidour hero, enjoying the squire’s look of surprise.
“Indeed! Who pays you that?”
“A gentleman boarding at the hotel has engaged me to read to him as hiseyes are weak.”
“A fool and his money are soon parted,” said Squire Leech. “You mayretain the position a week.”
“I hope to keep it. I feel sure that I shall.”
“I don’t,” said the squire, emphatically.
“Then are you willing to wait--say two weeks--for the rest of theinterest?”
“No, I am not, and you ought to have known I shouldn’t be. There is away of arranging the whole matter.”
“By selling the place, you mean?”
“Yes; I mean just that. It is folly for you to think of keeping theproperty with such a heavy mortgage upon it on which you are unable topay the interest. I have offered you a fair price for it.”
“You offered four hundred dollars less than it cost.”
“That is nonsense! It never cost fifteen hundred dollars.”
“I have my husband’s word for it,” said the widow.
“Then, he made some mistake, you may be sure.”
“I am sure father was right,” said Herbert. “Besides, we have his billsto prove it.”
“That’s neither here nor there,” said Squire Leech, impatiently. “Evenif it cost ten thousand dollars, it’s only worth eleven hundred now;that is to say, three hundred and fifty dollars over and above themortgage.”
“You are hard upon me, Squire Leech,” said Mrs. Carter, despondently.
“You are a woman, ma’am, and women never understand business. I makeallowance for you; but your son ought to know better than to encourageyou.”
“I want my mother to be treated fairly and justly.”
“Do you mean to imply that I would treat her otherwise, young man?” demanded the squire, angrily. “I advise you not to make an enemy of me.”
Herbert looked sober. The squire might not be right but certainly he hadthe power to carry his point and that power he was certain to exercise.
“Will you give my mother and myself a little time to consult what is tobe done?” he asked.
“Yes,” said the squire, feeling that he had carried his point. “I mightrefuse, of course, but I wish to be easy with you and therefore I willgive you till half past twelve. I will be back at that time.”
He took his cane and left the house.
His reference to the post office reminded Herbert of the letter he hadin his pocket for his mother.
“Here’s a letter for you, mother,” he said.
“A letter! Who can it be from?”
“It’s postmarked at Randolph,” said Herbert.
“Perhaps it’s from Aunt Nancy,” suggested the widow. “I don’t knowanyone else in Randolph that would be likely to write to me.”
She opened the envelope and uttered a cry of surprise as two billsdropped out and fluttered to the floor.
Herbert picked them up eagerly and cried: “Why, mother, they areten-dollar bills. Twenty dollars in all!”
“Twenty dollars!” repeated Mrs. Carter, in amazement.
“Hurrah! now we can pay the interest!” exclaimed Herbert. “Won’tthe squire be mad!” and he laughed joyously. “Read the letter aloud,mother.”
Mrs. Carter read as follows:
“MY DEAR NIECE: I have thought of you often, and wish we were not so fardistant from each other. I should enjoy seeing you and that good sonof yours often. I am afraid you have had a hard time getting along.My wants are few and I have more than enough to supply them. I inclosetwenty dollars in this letter. I shall not need them, for an old womanlike me can live on very little.
“I wish you would write to me sometimes or ask Herbert to. I feel lonelyand it would be a great favor to me. If it were not so far, I would askyou and Herbert to come over and spend a day or two with me. Perhapsyou can manage to do it some time. Only don’t delay too long, for I amgetting old and can’t expect to live much longer,
“Your affectionate aunt,
“NANCY CARTER.”
“How good of Aunt Nancy! If her brother had possessed her kind heart, weshould be better off to-day.”
“It came just in the nick of time, mother. How lucky!”
“Say, rather, how providential, my son. We owe to the kindness of God.He will not see us want.”
“Of course you are right, mother; but the squire won’t regard it in thesame light. He will be terribly disappointed, for he thinks he has gotus in his power.”
“I am thankful that this is to be our home for six months more.”
“Longer than that, mother. I am earning something now, and I will saveup money to pay our next interest.”
“Squire Leech is coming back,” said Mrs. Carter.
“See how briskly he walks!” said Herbert. “I don’t think he’ll be socheerful when he leaves the house.”
“I don’t think we ought to exult, Herbert.”
“I can’t help it, mother and I’m not ashamed of it, either. You arecarrying benevolence too far.”
Here the squire’s knock was heard, and Herbert went to admit him.
Herbert Carter's Legacy; Or, the Inventor's Son Page 17