"You are sure of that, mother?"
"Sure? Of course I am sure, darling," she answered. Yet even while speaking her heart sank.
Richard remained silent for a space. Then he said, with certain hesitancy: "Mother, tell me, it is true then that I am rich?"
"Quite true, Dick."
"But sometimes people lose their money."
Katherine smiled.—"Your money is not kept in a stocking, dearest."
"I don't suppose it is," the boy said, turning towards her. "But don't banks break?"
"Yes, banks break. But a good many broken banks would not affect you. It is too long a story to tell you now, Dickie, but your income is very safe. It would almost need a revolution to ruin you. You are rich now; and I am able to save considerable sums for you yearly."
"It's—it's awfully good of you to take so much trouble for me, mother," he interrupted, stroking her bare arm again delicately.
To Katherine his half-shy endearments were the most delicious thing in life—so delicious that at moments she could hardly endure them. They made her heart too full.