“My dear child, something has riled your father dreadful,” said Mrs. Massarene after luncheon that day; “he’s got his black cap on; oh, I always calls it his black cap when he looks thunder and lightning like, as he do to-day, and swallers his food without a word.” “Perhaps the Prince is not coming on the tenth,” said her daughter, with that inflection of contempt which she knew was unfilial, and which they told her was disloyal. Mrs. Massarene shook her head. “The Prince always comes _here_. He don’t get better dinners nowhere; and he’s a deal o’ use for your father in many ways. ’Tisn’t that. I am afeared ’tis some of the folks out in Dakota as bothers him.” “He must have so many who hate him!” said Katherine. “Well, yes, my dear, no doubt,” said his wife mournfully. “Did you ever see a hogshead o’ molasses without wasps? He have a very big fortune, has your father.” Katherine was silent. “Do you know, if he were to die, what he would do with it?” she said after awhile. “Why, leave it to you, my dear. Who else should have it?” “I hope he would not. I am sure he would not. I have displeased and opposed him too often. I think he will bequeath it in such a manner that it shall be a perpetual monument to himself.” “He’ll leave it to you, my dear. Nature is nature, even in a man like your father.” Katherine shuddered. “If I thought there was any fear of that I would speak to him about it.” “Oh, good gracious me, child, don’t dream of such a thing!” said Mrs. Massarene, in trepidation. “’Twould be firing dynamite! In the first place, you’d never turn him--nobody ever could--his mind’s made up, you may be sure, and nothing you could say would change it; but, oh Lord! if you was to hint to him that he must die one day, he’d never forgive it; he’s one o’ them as thinks he can square Almighty God. ’Twouldn’t be decent either, you know. ’Twould look as if you was counting on his going and wishing for his pile.” “If you think it would look like that I will say nothing. But I should beg him to leave me out of his will altogether.” “He wouldn’t believe you meant it,” said her mother. “He wouldn’t believe anybody could mean it. He would think you was trying to find out how much he’s worth and how much you’ll get.”