“Then, let us be more to each other, mother,” I said, quietly.
“But I need your uncle to assist me,” she said. “He can manage my business much better than I possibly can——”
“What’s the matter with Mr. Hounsditch?” I demanded. “He was our lawyer and had been grandfather’s lawyer, too.”
“Mr. Hounsditch is an old man. He is behind the times. He cannot invest our money to such good advantage——”
“Who says so?” I asked, and she could not answer the pointed question without admitting what I had supposed—that Mr. Chester Downes put these opinions of the keen old lawyer into mother’s head.
“I don’t care much about the money, mother,” I said. “I suppose we have plenty anyway, and the real estate cannot be sold at all till I am of age. But what property does come to me when I’m twenty-one, I’d rather not have Mr. Chester Downes handle. I’d rather trust to Mr. Hounsditch and accept small interest.”
“Clinton! you are really ridiculous,” cried mother, reddening again.
“Well, that’s all right,” I returned, laughing. “But you’ll hear to me, mother, won’t you? You won’t bother about Chester Downes and Paul? Put it down that I am jealous of the influence they have over you, if you like. I don’t care. Just let’s you and I live together and be happy.”
“That’s all I live for—to make you happy, Clinton,” said my mother, still sobbing like a child who has been injured.
“Then this request I make will be the only thing I’ll ask you to do for me for a year, Mumsie!” I cried, calling her by the pet name I had used when I was a little fellow.