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"And where's the money, father?" asked Faith. "Gone to pay debts, child," was the answer. Mrs. Gartney said nothing, but she looked very grave. Her husband surmised, perhaps, that she would go on to imagine worse than had really happened, and so added, presently: "I haven't been obliged to sell all my railroad stocks, wifey. I held on to some.
"I'm ready for her, any time. Only, if she's going to peak and pine as she has done ever since this grand match was settled for her, Glory and I'll have our hands full, nursing her, by then you get back!" "Faith is quite well," said Mrs. Gartney. "It is natural for a girl to be somewhat thoughtful when she decides for herself such an important relation." "Symptoms differ, in different cases.
"Just exactly what Aunt Henderson said!" cried Faith, exultant. "Aunt Faith, too! The conspiracy thickens! How long has all this been discussing?" continued Mr. Gartney, fairly roused, and springing, despite the doctor's request, to a sitting position, throwing off, as he did so, the afghan Faith had laid over his feet. "There hasn't been much discussion," said Faith.
"Also, that my plate, and my box of best house linen, which stands beside the press in the northwest chamber, be given to her, Faith Henderson Gartney; and that my nephew, Henderson Gartney, shall, according to his own pleasure and judgment, appropriate and dispose of any books, or articles of old family value and interest.
That is very true," said Mrs. Gartney. "Everybody always expected that it would all come to you. At least, to your daughter. She seemed to make so much of her." "My daughter is quite satisfied, and we for her." "Well, I must say! and so Mr. Armstrong is to board here, now? A little out of the way of most of the parish, isn't it? I never could see, exactly, what put it into his head to come so far.
And, last of all just with the good-night kiss Faith and her mother had had it all before, in the first minutes they were left alone together Mr. Gartney said to his daughter: "You are quite certain, now, Faith?" "Quite certain, father"; Faith answered, low, with downcast eyes, as she stood before him. Her father laid his hand upon her head.
The little smile worked its way; and half in idleness, half in acquiescence, Mr. Gartney took the pencil and noted down a short list of items. "It's very little, Faith, you see." They ran thus: New York Central Railroad 20 shares. Michigan Central " 15 " Kinnicutt Branch " 10 " Mishaumok Insurance Co. 15 " Merchants Bank 30 "
"Miss McGonegal seems to be improving," observed Mr. Gartney, complacently, one day, as he partook of a simple, but favorite pudding, nicely flavored and compounded; "or is this a charity of Aunt Henderson's?" "No," replied his wife, "it is home manufacture," and she glanced at Faith without dropping her tone to a period. Faith shook her head, and the sentence hung in the air, unfinished. Mrs.
Henderson Gartney, however, was too restless a man to wait, with entire passiveness, the possible turn and issue of things.
And she sat in a rocking-chair and rocked all the time and she says her name is Miss Battis!" Mrs. Gartney looked rather perplexed than amused. "But, Faith! I can't think how she knew she must have been, listening Norah has been so horribly angry! And she's upstairs packing her things to go right off. How can we be left without a cook?" "It seems Miss McGonegal means to demonstrate that we can!