The mother passed it to her.
“You open it, please, mother. It may be–it must be–that deed and maybe some other things–I couldn’t wait to pick the knots, and I’ve no knife.”
CHAPTER XIII
THE START
Nothing resembling a legal document was found inside the package; but, instead, were several neatly-arranged rolls of gold and silver money, with the denomination of each roll carefully marked outside; dollars, eagles, double eagles. With these was a scrap of paper, saying:
“All my savings for my captain. God bless them to her. E. M.”
“Oh, mother! That big-hearted Ephraim! Was anybody ever so unselfish as he?”
“Or as unjust as I have been.”
“How? What can you mean?”
Mrs. Trent did not answer, save by the tears in her eyes, though she was tempted to show her child all the base suspicion that had, for a brief space, dwelt in her own mind concerning “Forty-niner.” A suspicion which Antonio had suggested, and her trouble made her too ready to accept. Then she reflected it were wiser not, and rose, placing the precious parcel in Jessica’s own hands.