“She died hoping it,” Harlan insisted. “I tell you——”
Mr. Oliphant interrupted. “That seems to me about as far-fetched an idea as I’ve often heard, Harlan.”
“Does it, sir? Didn’t you ever hear grandmother express her opinion of Lena?”
“Somewhat frequently.”
“Did you ever hear her mention her conviction that Lena was entirely mercenary and married Dan because she thought he was rich?”
“She talked that way sometimes—yes.”
“And didn’t Lena just show us she thinks that’s what the will means, herself?”
“Possibly,” Mr. Oliphant admitted. “But that doesn’t prove——”
“You might just read over that document of grandma’s again,” Harlan suggested. “She appears to leave me everything and Dan nothing, but gives mother a very comfortable living income, and she knew mother will take care of him when he needs it. What’s most significant, she provides that mother can leave the principal to any one she pleases. Don’t you suppose grandma knew it will naturally come to Dan eventually? She’s really taken care of him, and at the same time made it appear that he’s cut off with this thirty-five hundred dollars that’ll last him about a minute. She did it because she hoped Lena would leave him and get a divorce.”
“No, no!” Mrs. Oliphant cried out. “Mother wouldn’t have had such a wicked thought. She had the strictest ideas about morality I ever——”