“This will interest you,” he nodded to Leslie, Leila and Vera. “He has a daughter at Hamilton in the freshman class. I suppose you know her?” he interrogated.
“Yes.” Blank surprise flashed over the faces of the trio as they nodded affirmative.
“What sort of girl is she—clever, or stupid?” he inquired pointedly.
“She is clever at acting. She’s to play King Hal in our production of ‘Henry the Fifth,’” Leila informed him.
“I have heard that she made brilliant recitations,” Leslie conceded.
“She is really a beautiful girl,” Vera remarked after a moment of silence.
“I’m going to ask Leslie a question,” Peter Cairns smiled fondly at his daughter. “What would you think of me if I had done what Norris has done in the matter of appropriating this check for his own use?”
“I don’t know. I couldn’t bear it. Try to be honest always, won’t you, Peter?” The intensity with which Leslie began her reply lightened into a rather wavery chuckle.
“Oh, ha, ha!” Vastly amused at Leslie’s reply, the financier continued, “It’s like this. I’ve had it out with Norris about everything. He is willing to make good the fifty thousand dollar check. He admits that he did wrong in not communicating with Miss Susanna soon after Mr. Brooke’s death. His father died shortly before Mr. Brooke. He also admitted to me that he had hoped his daughter might win the honor fund when she should be of an age to enter Hamilton. He suspected that Miss Susanna knew little or nothing about the arrangement, since she had never tried to get into touch with him. He decided to hold back the fund for his daughter’s benefit. He had heard a good deal about Marjorie as a shining light at Hamilton, but he believed his daughter might go her one better. It took time and patience to get these unlovely facts from him, but I persevered with him and got them. He understands that his position is serious. He is willing to make any amend he can, financial or other, because of his love for his daughter. He wishes her never to know that he has been other than above reproach. You have the facts. What shall you do about him, Miss Susanna?”
“Oh, let the rascal go, for his daughter’s sake. Make him turn over those Kenton Street properties to Marjorie’s colony,” was the old lady’s disgusted mandate. “You settle the whole matter with him, Peter. I rely upon you implicitly. So glad you and Leslie are soon coming to the Hedge. I shall make good use of my new neighbors.” She chuckled at her own joke.