“You have wounded Aunt Patricia very deeply, I am afraid, Polly,” Captain Burton said the next moment. “However, I suppose you were right and that it was unavoidable.”
Mrs. Burton had flung herself down on her couch.
“Of course I was right, Richard, and you need not have placed the entire responsibility of the refusal upon me. Do you suppose I enjoy wounding Aunt Patricia any more than you do? Was there ever any one so dear and so difficult? She will not forgive me in many a day! The truth is, Richard, Aunt Patricia has conceived the idea that you are worried over some money difficulty and would like to give us a good deal more money if we should need it. Can she by any chance be right?”
Rising, Captain Burton walked over to the fireplace and stood looking into the fire.
“Yes, Polly, Aunt Patricia is never altogether mistaken. One can trust always to her wisdom and kindness. We have some investments which of late have not been turning out so well as I hoped. Yet at present there is no occasion to be troubled; after a little they will adjust themselves. I beg of you not to worry or in any way to allow the idea to interfere with your recovery.”
“You are telling me the truth, Richard? I object to being treated like a child or an invalid when I am neither. I am ever so much better and there is no reason now why I should not be allowed to return to work. In a year I feel convinced I could again be fairly successful.”
“Please do not refer to the subject, Polly. Before I should agree to such rashness I would appeal to Aunt Patricia. However, there is no necessity.”
“But you promise to let me know if there should be a necessity.”
At first Captain Burton made no reply and then said smiling:
“Polly, there are times when I agree with Aunt Patricia, that you are a trying person. I presume I shall be forced to tell you, but there will be no occasion.”