‘I always want to say them,’ answered Maud candidly. ‘But isn’t she dreadful? She must have a duplicate key of your table. Do you think she has taken anything else?’
‘I shall look and see to-morrow. I don’t think there is anything in that table that she would care to possess. What beats me, is the motive for taking that letter. It is disagreeable enough, but of no value. Read it, Maud, and see if you can find out anything which could explain her deed.’
Maud obeyed. After reading a little way she became so much amused that she turned again to the beginning, and read it out aloud, so that Aunt Olive might have the benefit of the joke. She enjoyed vastly the old man’s misanthropic utterances, and her comments as she read amused the listeners as much as did the letter itself.
‘Dear, cross old Uncle Maynard!’ she exclaimed. ‘Isn’t it splendid how Uncle Belassis outwitted himself by keeping you away, Phil? How savage they must have been when they saw what he says! Oh, I really am glad Aunt Celia found it—it does so serve them right! He must have hated the Belassis family. I always thought he did. Do you think he’s really right about the will? Did Uncle Belassis make papa put that condition in, Phil? If he did, that settles the matter. I won’t have anything to do with a plot of Uncle Belassis’ making. I’ll send Lewis to the right-about pretty quick, if I’m just to be made a dupe of that horrid Belassis.’
Maud’s cheek had flushed. Her eyes sparkled with anger.
‘“Women will marry anything,” will they? Well, I’ll not marry Lewis to please his father—nothing shall persuade me. Yes, Phil; uncle was right. If you had not come back in time I might have been half bullied, half coaxed into it—for I do like Lewis, and I hate a row; but if you’ll back me I don’t care for anything, and I’ll defy Uncle Belassis to his face!’
Tor smiled and stood beside the girl, who had risen in her excitement, and was standing erect and indignant, with the letter held fast in her hands. He put his hand upon her shoulder and looked down into her face.
‘All right, little sister. You need have no fears on that point. You and I are more than a match for old Belassis; and you shall neither be bullied nor coaxed into doing anything you do not like—I will take good care of that. But leave the open defiance to me; and content yourself with the calm hauteur of the grande dame.’
Maud’s face took a different expression, and the angry light died out of her eyes. She looked up at him with a grateful admiration.
‘You are just an angel-boy, Phil. I wish I could be like you; but I’m afraid I shall never be the grande dame, I’m much too quick-tempered and volatile; I can’t think how you can keep so cool. I wish I could. I wish I were like you.’