“There need be no more waiting now,” said he, but whether he meant for himself or for Mr Philip, or for some one else, he did not say.
“All right!” said Philip, at a venture; and though he heard no more of the matter, and was too busy all day to give it a thought, he was not surprised, when he went, at night, to the bridge house, to hear that there was news awaiting him; but he was a little surprised at the nature of the news. It was Violet who told him. The children were gone out, and David was, for the moment, in his mother’s room, and only Frank was with Violet when Philip came in. For this time she was quite free from the “proper” and “dignified” air of which Jem used to accuse her where Philip was concerned. She was smiling and eager when, prompted by Frank, she told him there was something he would like to hear.
“It is about Davie, isn’t it?” said Philip. “Davie is Miss Bethia’s heir?”
But it was not Davie. Davie had his father’s library and the five hundred dollars which Miss Bethia had offered for it as well, to do what he liked with; there were some legacies to relatives, “to remember her by,” Miss Bethia had written, and there was something to Debby Stone. But the house and garden in Gourlay, and all else that had been Miss Bethia’s, she had bequeathed unconditionally to Mrs Inglis. It was not a large property, but it was a good deal more than Miss Bethia could have been supposed to possess, considering her way of life. It was not quite independence to Mrs Inglis and her children, but it would be a great help toward it.
“And,” said Violet, with a smile and a sigh, “it opens the way to Davie.”
“Yes; that is what Mr Caldwell said this morning. But you don’t seem so delighted as he was at the thought.”
“I am very glad for Davie. But it will be a sad breaking-up for the rest of us to have him go away. And it will be at once, I suppose, if, at this late day, arrangements can be made for his going this year to the university.”
“But the sooner the better, I should think, Violet,” said Frank, cheerfully.
“Yes—the sooner the better for him; but think of mamma and the rest of us. However, I know it is very foolish to look at that side of the matter, and, indeed, I am very glad.”
“And, besides, if you go to M— you will see him often,” said Frank. “We shall be rather dismal without you both, I am afraid.”