"Is he looking well?" asked Emily with a faint attempt at the tone of ordinary interest.
"I should say not at all; it would be queer if he was."
"Why, Aunt Christie?"
Miss Christie Grant paused. Confidence had not been reposed in her; to have surprised Emily into it would have given her no pleasure; it would have left her always suspicious that her niece would have withheld it if she could; besides, this rumour might after all be untrue. She answered, "Because, for one thing, he has had great, at least considerable, losses."
"Yes, I know," said Emily.
"But he aye reposed great confidence in me, as a friend should."
"Yes."
"And so I would have asked him several questions if I had known how to express myself; but bonds and debentures, and, above all, preference stock, were aye great stumbling-blocks to my understanding. Men have a way of despising a woman's notions of business matters; so I contented myself with asking if it was true that he was arranging to take a partner, and whether he would have to make any pecuniary sacrifice in order to effect this? He said 'Yes;' but I've been just thinking he meant that in confidence."
"You shouldn't tell it to me then."
"And then he told me (I don't know whether that was in confidence or not), but——"