Page:Terminations (New York, Harper and Brothers, 1895).djvu/138

126 "And why in the world doesn't she do so?" I enquired.

Adelaide hesitated. "She says you know." Then, on my also hesitating, she added: "A condition he makes."

"The Coxon fund?" I cried.

"He has mentioned to her his having told you about it."

"Ah, but so little! Do you mean she has accepted the trust?"

"In the most splendid spirit—as a duty about which there can be no two opinions." Then said Adelaide after an instant: "Of course she's thinking of Mr. Saltram."

I gave a quick cry at this, which, in its violence, made my visitor turn pale. "How very awful!"

"Awful?"

"Why, to have any thing to do with such an idea one's self."

"I'm sure you needn't!" Mrs. Mulville gave a slight toss of her head.

"He isn't good enough!" I went on; to which she responded with an ejaculation almost as lively as mine had been. This made me, with genuine, immediate horror, exclaim: "You haven't influenced her, I hope!" and my emphasis brought back the blood with a rush to poor Adelaide's face. She declared, while she blushed (for I had frightened her again), that she had never influenced any body and that the girl had only seen and heard and judged for herself. He had influenced