they could keep it up. And the
newspapers have been printing all sorts of things, and hinting that
young Mr. Blaisdell's appointment as director, after his father wrecked
the bank, was a scandal. At least, we haven't _that_ to bear up under.
Father was honest, if he wasn't rich."

"Who cares for the newspapers? They're all run by demagogues hunting
sensations. What makes me feel the worst about all this is that Stock
Exchange seat of father's. If I were only of age, so that I could go
down there on the floor, I tell you it wouldn't be long before you and I
were back where we belong, Sis. But, no, I'm a kid, so Graves thinks, in
charge of a guardian--a _guardian_, by gad!"

He snorted, in manly indignation. Caroline, her pretty face troubled,
rose and walked slowly across the room. It was a large room, in spite of
the fact that it was one of a suite in an apartment hotel, and furnished
richly. A. Rodgers Warren spent his money with taste, and spent it
freely while he lived. The furniture, the paintings, and bric-a-brac
were of the very best, chosen with care, here and abroad.

"Oh, dear!" sighed the girl. "I do hope Mr. Graves will be well enough
to call to-day. He expected to. Except for the telephone message telling
us that that _man_ at Denboro--"

"Our dear Uncle Elisha," put in Stephen, with sarcasm. "Uncle ''Lish!'
Heavens! what a name!"

"Hush! He can't help his name. And father's was worse yet--Abijah! Think
of it!"

"I don't want to think of it. Neither did the governor; that's why
he dropped it, I suppose. Just what did Graves say? Give me his exact
words."

"His partner, Mr. Kuhn, telephoned. He said that Mr. Graves had a bad
cold, having been wet through in a dreadful storm down there in the
country. The doctor forbade his leaving the house for a day or two, but
he would call on Tuesday--to-day--if he was sufficiently recovered. And
Mr. Kuhn said that everything was satisfactory. This Captain Warren--a
ship captain, I suppose he is--would, in all probability, refuse to
accept the guardianship and the rest of it--"

"Refuse? I should think so. I'm just as certain father was insane when
he made that will as I am that I'm alive. If I thought he wasn't, I'd
never forgive him."

"Hush, Steve. You promised me you wouldn't speak in that way."

"Well, all right, I won't. But, Caro, he _must_ have been insane. If he
wasn't, do you suppose he would have put us and the estate in the care
of a Down-East jay?