"He was a schoolmate of Father's, but he is younger than Father was."
"Is his wife living?"
"Yes," said Ellen. "But she's not well; she's in a sanatorium."
"What ails her?"
"She has lost her mind."
A look of significant amusement passed from Millie to Matthew, who stared back furiously and pulled his chair to the table. He had thought of driving in the double carriage and taking the whole family to visit Grandfather, but now he changed his mind. He would no more have Millie share his ride with Ellen than he would three years ago have had Ellen share his ride with Millie. When he had finished eating he immediately hitched his horse to the buggy and drove to the door, and Ellen climbed in beside him. She did not kiss Millie nor did Millie offer to kiss her.
For the first half-mile brother and sister were silent and busy with recollection. Suddenly Matthew breathed a long sigh.
"I could help you with money before you get your inheritance," he said in a low tone.
"Oh, thank you!" Ellen did not remember the long postponing, she saw only the yielding. "It isn't necessary now, everything is arranged. Next summer, though, when I'm twenty-one—"
"Then of course everything will be fixed properly."