And Caroline answered—
"I am very much obliged to you, but I prefer the certainty that I have to all the possibilities in the world."
Then there had been a rather brisk passage of arms between them on the subject of Caroline's money.
"I wish you would not pretend things to me," the girl had said, when they had first discussed the matter. "I can't help feeling that this is all your doing, that you consider it your duty to make some provision for me; in fact," Caroline had added defiantly, "I don't believe my mother had anything to leave me." After a little pause she said, "And I assure you I don't care in the least to take money from other people, even from you, except, of course, when I earn it...."
She was astonished to see how cross he looked.
"Evidently," he said, "you have not read those old letters and papers I gave you."
And Caroline was obliged to confess she had not done so.
"I advise you," Haverford had remarked, "to acquaint yourself with your mother's story, then you will see I have invented nothing."
Caroline could be obstinate at times.
"Well," was all she had remarked in answer to this, "there may have been something; but I am convinced, Mr. Haverford, you are giving me more than I ought to have."