Queenie's whim, Volume 2 (of 3) : $b A novelCarey, Rosa Nouchette
General
Queenie's whim, Volume 2 (of 3) : $b A novel
Carey, Rosa Nouchette
English fiction -- 19th century
"Yes; house property, and investments in the funds, consols, and
various securities will yield about that sum, I should think. The
furniture is to be sold, but the plate and valuables are yours.
There are various legacies to old servants, and a pension or two; but
to-morrow we can go over particularly into details."
"And it is all for my own use and benefit?"
"Exactly so; the terms of the will are binding. There is to be no
partition or deed of gift to any other person during your lifetime.
There is a small sealed paper addressed to you, which Mr. Calcott
gave into my hand, and which you had better read at once, it may
throw some light on his conduct."
Queenie took the paper. It was written in a feeble, almost
illegible, hand, and was not easy to decipher; the beginning was
strangely abrupt.
"I have told you that I have no niece; I must wash my hands of the
child. When a man has taken an oath upon his lips it is too late
then to talk of repentance. But I can trust her to Frank Marriott's
daughter. Mind, girl; I say that I can trust you, and a dead man's
trust is sacred.
"My money is my own to do with it as I will. I have no relation in
the world, for the child is nothing to me. Do you remember telling
me that you were sorry for me, that no one would shed tears over my
grave? I can recal your words now. 'It must be so dreadful not to
want love, to be able to do without it.' Child, child, what
possessed you to say such words to me?
"Well, you are wrong; Caleb will be sorry for me, the poor fellow has
a faithful heart; and, if I mistake not, you will shed a tear or two
when you hear that I have gone. Do you recollect how you reproached
me the first time I saw you? 'Though you were dying of hunger,' you
said, 'you would not crave my bounty.' You told me that I had given
you hard, sneering words; that I was refusing to help you in your
bitter strait; that I was leaving you, young and single-handed, to
fight in this cruel world. Girl, those were hard words to haunt a
dying man's pillow. Well, well, I am dying, and I know you have
forgiven me, though I have a wish to hear you say it once; but I know
you forgave me when you gave me that kiss. Ah, I have not forgotten
that. I am leaving you all my money, think of that! to Frank
Marriott's daughter! It has been a curse to me, mind you turn it
into a blessing. Remember, I trust the child to you. Perhaps in the
many mansions,--but there, Emily was a saint, and I am a poor
miserable sinner. The child is like her mother, so take care of her.
If Emily and I meet--but there's no knowing--I should like to tell
her the child has suffered no wrong,--the many mansions--there may be
room for Andrew Calcott; who knows? There, God bless you; God bless
you both. I am getting drowsy and must sleep;" but here the letter
broke off abruptly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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