“I never—never thought of such a thing! I was never jealous of you, Katie,—I always said it was nonsense. I won’t hear of it. There’s a law against it. When people have a thing for seven years it is theirs whoever comes back. People are dead after seven years, you can marry somebody else even?” cried Emberance, incoherently.
“Yes,” said Kate, “it is mine, I know, so I can give it away if I like. I am going to tell Uncle Kingsworth.”
“Katharine! Katharine!”
But Kate ran down stairs, Emberance pursued her, caught her up as she opened the study door, and got the first word as she flew to her uncle.
“Please, uncle, don’t let her do it. Uncle, it is all nonsense; I wouldn’t have it for the world.”
“Uncle Kingsworth, I have decided. I have made up my mind that Emberance must have Kingsworth!”
“Why, girls—why, girls! what in the world does all this mean?” exclaimed the astonished Canon, as he turned round and faced his two nieces; both flushed, and one tearful, and each appealing to him at the same moment.
“Oh, uncle, it is all Kate’s generosity! I wouldn’t hear of it,” cried Emberance.
“It is because I know now that Emberance really wants it, and must be unhappy if she is poor,” said Kate. “And what has brought you to this conclusion?”
“She is engaged, uncle—”