"Let me have my say out, uncle. You know I have ten thousand dollars that came from my grandmother, about which no one has anything to say but myself, and you shall pay over these ten thousand dollars to Linden. I suppose he will have to build--he may need all sorts of things then, and he will be fretted and worried--do this for me, uncle; you see I cannot talk to him about such things."
"Indeed, I will not, Miss Gertrude."
"Why?"
"Because he would take it, finally--or he would be angry. Thanks, ever so much."
"But I want him to take it."
He was silent.
"When are you going to be married, child?" he inquired at length.
A rosy flush passed over Gertrude's face--"Mamma has not said anything about it yet. Frank wants it to be in April, and--I do not want to increase his difficulties by my reception."
"Very well, very well, he can wait as long as that," said the old gentleman.
She looked disappointed, but she said nothing.