“I’m very glad for you, Jean.”
“But I haven’t accepted him, and I never will.”
“Of course you will! And when you’re married. I’ll give you your trousseau. Meantime, just to show how grateful I am for coming to see me, I want you to take this thing.”
She pressed into the hands of the surprised girl the certificate of stock, which was not too old to crackle in the dark.
“What is it?”
“Just some worthless stock, but it will not always be worthless. I’ll transfer it for you. Perhaps when there is another Jean, it will buy her trousseau.”
Chapter 64. Gadolinium
When the Riches were nearing home on the afternoon mail tug, they found the river covered with dense smoke. There was evidently a forest fire not far away in the west, but as their own peninsula had not been touched by fire in seventy years, they gave it little thought.
Having brought an overjoyed Agricola from the post-office, they crept down the river in the dory. Not a steamer was moving. At their pier lay a launch containing an open satchel and some articles of dress, as if some man had hurriedly changed his clothes. Surprised at this, they hastened to the house to see who had come, but found everything locked and shipshape.
Agricola was off, and presently they heard his familiar bark, followed by a moo.