Page:A strange, sad comedy (IA strangesadcomedy00seawiala).pdf/164

152 self-possession, and no one during the evening would have suspected that anything out of the common had occurred. But Letty went to bed early and lay awake half the night, while her dislike for Mr. Romaine grew like Jonah's gourd.

Next morning, as soon as the coast was clear, the Colonel sent for Letty into the library.

"I want to say to you, my love," he began at once, "that I believe this thing that Romaine has done is not done in good faith. He is the sort of man to leave his property to perpetuate his name in a library or something of that kind. And, moreover, if he should even be in good faith, his relations are not the people to let so much money go to a comparative stranger without a struggle. They have been looking to him now, for two generations, to set them on their feet, and they will be infuriated with you. And they will have just cause—for, after reflection, I am convinced that grave injustice will be done if this money comes to you. Then, your personal dislike—"

"Personal dislike! say personal hatred; for I assure you I have felt something more than