“I knew you wanted to be alone, Nan, but there’s a matter I must speak to you about, and I thought it best to do it at once. I shan’t bother you long. I left a dinner at the Lawyers’ Club to run up for a minute; in about an hour I shall be making a speech; so you needn’t prepare for a long visit!”
“I’m glad you came. It’s much harder than I thought it would be. I’m sorry I didn’t keep Mrs. Copeland or one of the girls with me.”
“Of course, you’re bound to feel it. It came as a great shock to all of us. A man like your father can’t pass out of the world without being missed—very deeply missed. He was a real person; a vivid personality. It has done me good to hear the fine things said of him; the crowd here at the services showed that he had been held in very deep affection by all sorts of people.”
There was a moment’s silence. The tears had come into her eyes and he waited for her to control herself.
“I shouldn’t be troubling you if I hadn’t felt that my business—if it can be called business—was urgent. I’m taking the liberty of an old friend—of yours and of Mr. Farley’s.”
“Oh, there can’t be any question of liberty!” she protested. “You’re always so thoughtful, so kind!”
“My purpose is in no sense professional,” he continued. “Mr. Thurston was Mr. Farley’s lawyer and he will no doubt confer with you at once on business matters. He’s an excellent man; wholly trustworthy. No one stands higher at our bar.”
“Yes; I know papa had every confidence in him,” Nan replied, wondering what Eaton, who looked very distinguished in his evening clothes, could have to say to her.
“It’s in relation to that little difficulty—an unfortunate but wholly pardonable mistake you made—you see I speak frankly—in reference to a man named Harlowe, a lawyer from the south part of the State, in regard to a demand he made on you some time ago. Mr. Farley explained about it—all that he knew.”
Nan clenched her hands tightly and drew a deep breath. It was inconceivable that that specter could reappear to trouble her.