Susie was listening now with all her ears. Lawyers, deceased uncles, and Anna's sparkling face could only have one meaning.
"Uncle Joachim was our mother's only brother——"
"I know, I know," interrupted Susie impatiently.
"—and was the dearest and kindest of uncles to me——"
"Never mind what he was," interrupted Susie still more impatiently. "What has he done for you? Tell me that. You always pretended, both of you—Peter too—that he had miles of sandy places somewhere in the desert, and dozens of boys. What could he do for you?"
"Do for me?" Anna rose up with a solemnity worthy of the great news about to be imparted, put both her hands on Susie's little shoulders, and looking down at her with shining eyes, said slowly, "He has left me an estate bringing in forty thousand marks a year."
"Forty thousand!" echoed Susie, completely awestruck.
"Marks," said Anna.
"Oh, marks," said Susie, chilled. "That's francs, isn't it? I really thought for a moment——"
"They're more than francs. It brings in, on an average, two thousand pounds a year. Two—thousand—pounds—a—year," repeated Anna, nodding her head at each word. "Now, Susie, what do you think of that?"