“Yes, father; Betsey is here, and we shall burn them together.”
“Well, that is pretty much all, I guess; and I’m tired
now. Look out the rest of them when you have time, and you’ll know what to burn. There is nothing there that Jacob or Clifton has anything to do with. I often have been sorry that I didn’t just take old Mr Fleming’s note, instead of the mortgage. It might have saved some hard feelings. There, that’s all. I feel better, I’ll try and sleep again.”
They sat beside him till he fell asleep, and then they moved into the other room, Elizabeth carrying the bag with her.
“Cousin Lizzie,” said Betsey, “wait a minute. I don’t more than half believe it’s lawful to burn these notes and things.”
“It is quite lawful. My father told me to burn them.”
“But wait. Do you know that folks are beginning to say that your brother Jacob is hard up, that he is pressed for money?”
“Yes, he told me so himself. He said the difficulty was only temporary, and that—that I should hear more about it soon.”
“They say it’s pretty bad, and you know everything has been mixed up in the business, and your share might have to go with the rest. There is a good deal represented by the papers you have in your hands, cousin.”