Mr. Kingspring coughed and muttered a vague assent.
“Is Cousin Darrell dead?” asked Pearl abruptly.
“No, no; it is nothing about Darrell.”
“Is it anything about money?”
“Well, perhaps it may be; but I hope not. I mean I hope it will turn out a mistake.”
“Mamma was crying this morning,” said Pearl; “she does not cry for nothing.”
“I hope there may be no real cause for her tears. I believe myself there is not.”
“Papa was in a dreadful state,” continued Pearl. “I heard him storming in his study for more than an hour. Was it about a letter he got from England?”
“There was a letter. But don’t cross-examine me; don’t, Pearl. It is not fair, and I really must not speak.”
Pearl never remembered him calling her by her name before, though he declared he used to do so when she was a baby.