FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   >>  
of his money in a way that we knew nothing of. Do you know, Sylvester, I've sometimes suspected"-- "What?" said Uncle Sylvester suddenly. The bored languor of his face had abruptly vanished. Every muscle was alert; his gray eyes glittered. "That he advanced money to Du Page, who lost it, or that they speculated together," returned Gabriel, who, following Uncle Sylvester's voice only, had not noticed the change of expression. "That would seem to be a weakness of the Lane family," said Uncle Sylvester grimly, with a return of his former carelessness. "But that is not YOUR own opinion--that's a suggestion of some one else?" "Well," said Gabriel, with a laugh and a slight addition of color, "it WAS Gunn's theory. As a man of the world and a practical financier, you know." "And you've talked with HIM about it?" "Yes. It was a matter of general wonder years ago." "Very likely--but, just now, don't you think we've had enough financial talk?" said Uncle Sylvester, with a bored contraction of his eyebrows. "Come," looking around the room, "you've changed the interior of the old house." "Yes. Unfortunately, just after father's death it was put in the hands of a local architect or builder, one of father's old friends, but not a very skillful workman, who made changes while the family were away. That's why your present bedroom, which was father's old study, had a slice taken off it to make the corridor larger, and why the big chimney and hearthstone are still there, although the fireplace is modernized. That was Flint's stupidity." "Whose stupidity?" asked Uncle Sylvester, trimming his nails. "Flint's--the old architect." "Why didn't you make him change it back again?" "He left Lakeville shortly after, and I brought an architect from St. Louis after I returned from Europe. But nothing could be done to your room without taking down the chimney, so it remained as Flint left it." "That reminds me, Gabriel, I'm afraid I spoke rather cavalierly to Kitty, last night, about the arrangements of the room. The fact is, I've taken a fancy to it, and should like to fit it up myself. Have I your permission?" "Certainly, my dear Sylvester." "I've some knickknacks in my trunks, and I'll do it at once." "As you like." "And you'll see that I am not disturbed; and you'll explain it to Kitty, with my apologies?" "Yes." "Then I'm off." Gabriel glanced at his brother with a perplexed smile. Here was the
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   >>  



Top keywords:
Sylvester
 

Gabriel

 

father

 
architect
 

change

 

family

 

stupidity

 

returned

 

chimney

 

present


hearthstone

 
Lakeville
 

bedroom

 
modernized
 
larger
 

fireplace

 

trimming

 

shortly

 

corridor

 

afraid


knickknacks

 

trunks

 

Certainly

 

permission

 

brother

 
perplexed
 

glanced

 

disturbed

 

explain

 

apologies


taking

 

Europe

 
remained
 

arrangements

 

cavalierly

 

reminds

 

brought

 

expression

 

weakness

 

noticed


speculated
 
grimly
 

suggestion

 

opinion

 

return

 
carelessness
 

suddenly

 
languor
 
abruptly
 

suspected