"As if I grudged—as if I wanted to shorten the time!"
She swallowed a little sob.
"No, no; of course you don't. I understand you quite well."
"The last thing father said to me was, 'Take care of her, she's growing old.'"
He nodded.
"That's all I mean by putting this money into your hands."
"Oh, but I can't take five hund— I understand better than I did when I wrote that stupid letter; she'd half kill me!"
"She's not to know, and I"—he glowered down at her with a laugh—"I'll half kill you if you don't do what I tell you."
She looked in her lap. Her eyelids fluttered.
"You must write me regularly, and tell me all that's happening."