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<v Speaker 1>Chapter twenty one of flood Tide. This LibriVox recording is

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<v Speaker 1>in the public domain. Recording by Roger Moline. Flood Tide

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<v Speaker 1>by Sarah ware Bassett, Chapter twenty one surprises. The next morning,

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<v Speaker 1>Robert Morton awoke with the fixed determination that another sun

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<v Speaker 1>should not go down until he had acquainted mister Galbraith

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<v Speaker 1>with Genoah's accusations, the misgivings, the suspicions, the fears he

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<v Speaker 1>entertained must be cleared up at any cost, or further

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<v Speaker 1>residence beneath Willie's roof would be impossible. If necessary, he

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<v Speaker 1>would go to New York to see the financier, but

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<v Speaker 1>he must know where the blame for Snelling's treachery lay,

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<v Speaker 1>whether with the capitalist or with his employee. Accordingly, he

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<v Speaker 1>arose early, and, having breakfasted, went down to the store

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<v Speaker 1>where the nearest telephone was, and called up the Bellport residence.

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<v Speaker 1>He was fortunate in getting Parker, the old butler, on

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<v Speaker 1>the wire. Mister Galbraith, Mister Bob, came the voice of

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<v Speaker 1>the servant. Yes, sir, he arrived home last night. I

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<v Speaker 1>think he is going over to Wilton today to see you.

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<v Speaker 1>I heard him saying something about it. Wait a minute,

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<v Speaker 1>I hear him on the stairs. Now there was a pause, Then,

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<v Speaker 1>after a delay, another voice that Bob instantly recognized to

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<v Speaker 1>be that of the Master of the house called Bob, Well,

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<v Speaker 1>hello boy. I guess you thought we had all left

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<v Speaker 1>you and your affairs high and dry, didn't you. I've

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<v Speaker 1>been in New York, you know. I'm just back. I

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<v Speaker 1>want to see you as soon as I can about

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<v Speaker 1>several important matters. Suppose I run over in the car

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<v Speaker 1>this morning. Will you be there good? I'll see you later.

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<v Speaker 1>Then Robert Morton hung up the receiver and walked meditatively

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<v Speaker 1>along the sandy road to the Gray cottage. The dye

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<v Speaker 1>was cast. Whatever happened, it could not be worse than

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<v Speaker 1>had been the days of suspense and anxiety that he

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<v Speaker 1>had endured. The morning was close and humid, a land

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<v Speaker 1>breeze wafting across the fields perfumes of sun scorched pine

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<v Speaker 1>and blossoming roses scarce. A ripple marred the glittering surface

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<v Speaker 1>of the bay that stretched like a sheet of burnished

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<v Speaker 1>brass as far as one could see. Now, and then

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<v Speaker 1>a faint zephyr rising from the wooded slopes, swept down

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<v Speaker 1>the hill swirling into billows of vivid emerald, the coarse

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<v Speaker 1>salt grass that swayed on the marshes. So still it

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<v Speaker 1>was that every whisper of the surf lapping the edge

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<v Speaker 1>of the bar could be heard over and over. The

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<v Speaker 1>waters stole up on the shore, fretted into foam, and

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<v Speaker 1>re seated, each wave creeping rhythmically back into the deep

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<v Speaker 1>to a song of shifting sand and pebbles. How silvery

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<v Speaker 1>the tiny houses of the hamlet looked against the azure

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<v Speaker 1>of the sky. The few scattered trees that had breathed

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<v Speaker 1>the onslaughts of repeated gales listed landward. But the pines

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<v Speaker 1>sheltered in the hollows of the dunes stood erect and

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<v Speaker 1>darkly mysterious, their plumes bending idly in the soft wind.

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<v Speaker 1>It was all a part of the idol, the day dream.

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<v Speaker 1>Robert Morton thought, too flawless a thing to last. Willie,

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<v Speaker 1>so childlike and simple, his kindly aunt, delight with their

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<v Speaker 1>rare beauty, and even the romance of his love, seemed

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<v Speaker 1>a part of its unreality. Was it not to be

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<v Speaker 1>expected that sooner or later, man, with his blundering touch,

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<v Speaker 1>would destroy the loveliness, making prose of the poem, the galls,

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<v Speaker 1>snelling the greed for money, Genoa's jealousy and evil suspicions. Ah,

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<v Speaker 1>it did not take long for such influence as to

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<v Speaker 1>mar the peace of a heaven and smear the grime

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<v Speaker 1>of Earth upon its fairness. Only glimpses of perfection were

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<v Speaker 1>granted the dwellers of this planet, quick transient flashes that

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<v Speaker 1>mirrored a future free from finite limitations. He who expected

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<v Speaker 1>to remain in the heights in this world, was doomed

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<v Speaker 1>to disappointment. Slowly he skirted the curving beach and reached

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<v Speaker 1>the weathered cottage, where the sun beat hotly down, kissing

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<v Speaker 1>into flower every bud of the clinging roses that festooned

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<v Speaker 1>its gray doorway. Willie welcomed him, but a glory had

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<v Speaker 1>passed from the old man's face since the conversation of

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<v Speaker 1>the night before. How could it be otherwise? Sleepless hours

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<v Speaker 1>had left behind them weary careworn lines, and in the

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<v Speaker 1>troubled depths of the Blue Eyes, the old interrogation had

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<v Speaker 1>once more awakened. Bob knew not how to meet at

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<v Speaker 1>silent combat between hope and disappointment, and he hailed as

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<v Speaker 1>a glad relief the beating echo of the Galbraith's motor

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<v Speaker 1>car as it swept the horseshoe outline of the harbor

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<v Speaker 1>and came to a stop before the gate. Mister Galbraith,

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<v Speaker 1>who was alone, beckoned to him, and as the younger

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<v Speaker 1>man climbed to the seat beside him, said, I thought

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<v Speaker 1>perhaps you might like to go for a spin along

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<v Speaker 1>the shore. It is warm today and we shall get

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<v Speaker 1>more breeze. Besides, we can talk more freely in the

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<v Speaker 1>automobile than here at the Bellport house. Roger has just arrived,

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<v Speaker 1>and also Howard Snelling, in spite of himself Robert Morton

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<v Speaker 1>betrayed his surprise mister Snelling back again. He exclaimed, yes

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<v Speaker 1>he is down, was the laconic answer for all his

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<v Speaker 1>boasted eagerness to talk. However, Richard Galbraith did not immediately

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<v Speaker 1>avail himself to the privilege of conversation. On the contrary,

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<v Speaker 1>as Bob shot a question and glanced toward him, he

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<v Speaker 1>thought he detected for the first time in his life,

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<v Speaker 1>a strange uneasiness in the capitalist's habitually self contained manner.

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<v Speaker 1>He seemed to be framing an introduction for what he

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<v Speaker 1>wished to say. I have several matters to talk over

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<v Speaker 1>with you, Bob, he began at last, in a resolute tone.

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<v Speaker 1>Some of them are pleasant, and some of them may not.

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<v Speaker 1>I fear prove to be so. But we must take

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<v Speaker 1>them as they come, and pleasant or unpleasant. I want

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<v Speaker 1>you to believe that I have no choice but to

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<v Speaker 1>place them before you. I have always felt for you

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<v Speaker 1>a warm friendship, my boy, and that friendship has no

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<v Speaker 1>way lessened. Therefore, if any word I speak causes you

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<v Speaker 1>on happiness, I want you to remember that I only

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<v Speaker 1>say it because I must. We are not always permitted

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<v Speaker 1>to readjust life according to our inclinations. Duty maps out

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<v Speaker 1>many of our paths, and we must close our lips

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<v Speaker 1>and travel them. He stopped, as if considering how to proceed.

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<v Speaker 1>While in New York, he presently resumed. I probated Madame

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<v Speaker 1>Lee's will. She was possessed of a large estate and

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<v Speaker 1>knew very definitely what she wanted done with it. The

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<v Speaker 1>will was made several years ago, and no document that

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<v Speaker 1>I have ever seen was more specifically and conscientiously drawn up.

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<v Speaker 1>Although she left jewels and heirlooms to my family, she

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<v Speaker 1>left none of her other property to the Galbraiths, explaining

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<v Speaker 1>that her daughter had all she needed, and that both

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<v Speaker 1>Cynthia and Roger had more already than was good for them.

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<v Speaker 1>He smiled humorously. I guessed pretty accurately what she intended

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<v Speaker 1>to do, as some time ago we talked the matter over,

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<v Speaker 1>and I heartily approved of her proposed bequest. He cleared

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<v Speaker 1>his throat, and in wondering silence, Robert Morton waited. The

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<v Speaker 1>property was left in bulk to an old friend whom

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<v Speaker 1>Madame Lee had known for years, some one entirely outside

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<v Speaker 1>the family. Bob did not speak. I would gladly see

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<v Speaker 1>the Lee money administered as its owner desired to have it.

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<v Speaker 1>Mister Galbraith went on. Her ideas were wise, kind and just,

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<v Speaker 1>and the fulfillment of her wishes would have brought to

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<v Speaker 1>me to us all the greatest happiness. But since that

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<v Speaker 1>will was made, a new condition has arisen. Delight Hathaway,

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<v Speaker 1>the child of her favorite daughter, has appeared. Had the

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<v Speaker 1>old lady lived, I feel certain that in view of

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<v Speaker 1>this fact, she would have altered the document that this

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<v Speaker 1>girl might inherit at least a portion of the fortune

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<v Speaker 1>in which her mother never had any share. You knew

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<v Speaker 1>Madame Lee very intimately, Bob, probably better than any of

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<v Speaker 1>the rest of us. What do you think the reply

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<v Speaker 1>came without hesitation. I am certain Madame Lee would have

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<v Speaker 1>seen to it that her granddaughter was provided for. So

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<v Speaker 1>it seems to me, rejoined mister Galbraith with evident relief.

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<v Speaker 1>I am glad that our code of ethics agrees thus far.

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<v Speaker 1>Now the question is, Bob, how strong are you for

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<v Speaker 1>the right, if honorable action meant sacrifice? Would you be

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<v Speaker 1>ready to meet it? I hope so, was the modest response.

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<v Speaker 1>I know so, mister Galbraith, declared earnestly. And it is

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<v Speaker 1>because I am so sure of it that I came

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<v Speaker 1>to you today. Bob. It was to you that Madame

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<v Speaker 1>Lee left her fortune. It was to be used for

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<v Speaker 1>the furthering of your dearest wish, because, to quote her

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<v Speaker 1>own words, because I love the boy as if he

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<v Speaker 1>were of my own blood. As he listened, Robert Morton's

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<v Speaker 1>eyes grew cloudy, and emotion choked his utterance until he

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<v Speaker 1>could not speak. Apparently mister Galbraith either expected no reply

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<v Speaker 1>or tactfully interpreted his silence, for without waiting, he continued

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<v Speaker 1>you can understand now, Bob, feeling toward you, as we

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<v Speaker 1>all do, that this recent family development has not been

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<v Speaker 1>easy for us to confront. Delight. Hathaway is a beautiful

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<v Speaker 1>girl who possesses no doubt admirable qualities. We expect to

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<v Speaker 1>become warmly attached to her in time, but for all

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<v Speaker 1>her kinship, she is a stranger to us, while you

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<v Speaker 1>are of our own, a brother friend. For the first time,

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<v Speaker 1>the kind voice faltered. I have even cherished a hope,

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<v Speaker 1>it went on in a lower tone, that perhaps in

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<v Speaker 1>the future a closer bond might bind you to us.

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<v Speaker 1>Nothing in the world would have given me greater satisfaction.

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<v Speaker 1>Bob suddenly felt the blood leap to his face in

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<v Speaker 1>a crimson flood. He gasped out an incoherent word or two,

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<v Speaker 1>hoping to check mister Galbraith's speech, but no intelligible phrases

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<v Speaker 1>came to his tongue. Life is a strangely perverse game,

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<v Speaker 1>isn't it, mused? The capitalist we build our castles, build

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<v Speaker 1>them not alone for ourselves, but for others and those

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<v Speaker 1>we love. Shatter the structure we have so painstakingly reared,

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<v Speaker 1>and on its ruined sight, make for themselves castles of

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<v Speaker 1>their own. His eyes were fixed on the narrowing ribbon

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<v Speaker 1>of sand over which the car sped. I I have

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<v Speaker 1>another surprise for you, Bob, he said in a lower tone,

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<v Speaker 1>without lifting his gaze from the reach of highway ahead.

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<v Speaker 1>Cynthia is to be married. Cynthia. A chaos of emotions

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<v Speaker 1>mingled in the word. Her engagement has been an overwhelming

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<v Speaker 1>shock to her mother and me. The elder man continued

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<v Speaker 1>steadily still, without shifting his eyes from the road over

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<v Speaker 1>which he guided the car. I don't know why the

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<v Speaker 1>possibility never occurred to us, but it never did. She

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<v Speaker 1>is to marry Howard Snelling. A quick wave of revulsion

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<v Speaker 1>swept over Robert Morton. This, then, was the reason Snelling

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<v Speaker 1>had filt from Willie, his invention that he might have

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<v Speaker 1>greater riches to lay at the feet of his fiancee

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<v Speaker 1>and perhaps reached more nearly a financial equality with her family.

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<v Speaker 1>He saw it all now, and probably it was Snelling's

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<v Speaker 1>jealousy of himself that had led him to retaliate by

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<v Speaker 1>heaping his unwelcome attentions on Delight. At last, it was

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<v Speaker 1>clear as day Cynthia's growing coldness and her continual trips

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<v Speaker 1>to and from Bellport in the boat builder's company. Robert

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<v Speaker 1>Morton could have laughed aloud at his own stupidity. The

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<v Speaker 1>engagement explained too, mister Snelling's confusion and embarrassment at every

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<v Speaker 1>mention of the Galbraith family. Why a child might have

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<v Speaker 1>fathomed the romance. Again, mister Galbraith was speaking, and now Bob,

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<v Speaker 1>for the last surprise of all. At first I thought

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<v Speaker 1>I would delay telling you until the papers were all

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<v Speaker 1>in shape and ready for signature. But on second thought

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<v Speaker 1>it seemed a pity to shut you out of the fun.

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<v Speaker 1>We have all the data prepared to take out a

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<v Speaker 1>patent on mister Spencer's motor boat. Bob felt a sudden

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<v Speaker 1>sinking of his heart, a stifling of his breath. The

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<v Speaker 1>afternoon you all came over to Bellport, explained the financier.

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<v Speaker 1>I got Snelling and a draftsman from our company to

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<v Speaker 1>go to the shop, and in the old gentleman's absence

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<v Speaker 1>secure measurements and the necessary information. These we took to

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<v Speaker 1>New York and put into proper hands. And when the

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<v Speaker 1>affidavits are sworn to and everything is in legal form,

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<v Speaker 1>I see no reason why the government should not grant

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<v Speaker 1>the patent. If it does, there should be a little

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<v Speaker 1>fortune in the appliance. Robert Morton did not move. He

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<v Speaker 1>felt as if he had been turned to stone. I

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<v Speaker 1>thought you would be interested, observed mister Galbraith, a suggestion

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<v Speaker 1>of disappointment in his voice. I did not consult you

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<v Speaker 1>at first, because I felt so sure that the idea

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<v Speaker 1>would please you. I'm sorry if it doesn't. It seemed

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<v Speaker 1>to me that if we could help mister Spence to

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<v Speaker 1>patent his device, he might do quite a little with it.

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<v Speaker 1>I thought he might not know how to go at

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<v Speaker 1>the matter himself. So we are preparing all the papers

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<v Speaker 1>for him to file an application in his own name. Afterward,

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<v Speaker 1>I propose either to purchase from him the rights to

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<v Speaker 1>use it, or to buy the thing outright at a

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<v Speaker 1>reasonable figure. In either case, the deal will net him

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<v Speaker 1>quite an income and place him beyond the possibility of

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<v Speaker 1>financial worry so long as he lives. Oh the relief

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<v Speaker 1>that surged over Robert Morton joy rioted with shame, happiness,

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<v Speaker 1>with self reproach. How feeble his faith had been. He hoped.

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<v Speaker 1>Mister Galbraith did not read in his eyes the suspicions

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<v Speaker 1>he had cherished, apparently he did not, for in the

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<v Speaker 1>same kindly manner, he asked, do you think it would

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<v Speaker 1>be better to keep the secret from the little old

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<v Speaker 1>chap a bit longer? Or tell him now? Oh? Tell him, now,

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<v Speaker 1>tell him now, cried Bob, tell him right away when

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<v Speaker 1>we get back. His companion laughed at his eagerness, and

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<v Speaker 1>for the first time their eyes met. And now, sir,

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<v Speaker 1>began Robert Morton, a ring of buoyancy and light heartedness

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<v Speaker 1>in his voice such as had not sounded in it

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<v Speaker 1>for weeks. I have a surprise for you. I too,

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<v Speaker 1>am going to be married. The car swerved suddenly, as

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<v Speaker 1>if a tremor had passed through the hands on the wheel.

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<v Speaker 1>I am engaged to your niece, mister Galbraith, to my

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<v Speaker 1>my niece, repeated the great man blankly. I don't think

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<v Speaker 1>I quite to delight Hathaway. Bob saw a dull brick,

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<v Speaker 1>red flush colored the neck of the capitalist and steal

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<v Speaker 1>up into his face. For a moment he seemed at

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<v Speaker 1>a loss for words. Then, presently, as if he had

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<v Speaker 1>succeeded in readjusting his ideas, he ejaculated. My word, Bob,

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<v Speaker 1>well you young people have mixed yourselves up nicely. However, if

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<v Speaker 1>you all are happy, that is the main thing. You

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<v Speaker 1>are the ones to be suited. We shall still have

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<v Speaker 1>you in the family anyway, he laughed. And about the property,

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<v Speaker 1>he went on, thoughtfully, this simplifies matters greatly, for it

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<v Speaker 1>won't make much difference now which of you has it?

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<v Speaker 1>You or the girl. But Bob stopped him with a

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<v Speaker 1>quick protest. I don't want delight to know Madame Lee's

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<v Speaker 1>money has previously been willed to me, he said, if

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<v Speaker 1>she suspected that she would never take it, you are

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<v Speaker 1>not to tell her. Promise me you will see to that.

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<v Speaker 1>Of course, I will arrange the affair any way you wish.

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<v Speaker 1>Mister Galbraith agreed with a dubious frown. But if you

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<v Speaker 1>were to marry her, I really can't see what difference

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<v Speaker 1>it would make. It will make a great deal of difference,

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<v Speaker 1>declared the younger man. In the one case, the fortune

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<v Speaker 1>will be hers to use as she pleases. She will

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<v Speaker 1>have the independent right to hand it over to the

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<v Speaker 1>Brewsters if she so desires. Our entire will be placed

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<v Speaker 1>on another basis, For if I marry her under those conditions,

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<v Speaker 1>I marry an heiress, not the ward of a poor fisherman.

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<v Speaker 1>I hadn't thought of that. On the other hand, if

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<v Speaker 1>she refuses the money, it will be mine to lay

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<v Speaker 1>at her feet. Can't you see what a vast contrast

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<v Speaker 1>there will be in my position? Mister Galbraith nodded thoughtfully,

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<v Speaker 1>as if considering the matter from a new angle. That's

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<v Speaker 1>the only reason the fortune would mean anything to me,

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<v Speaker 1>that I might have something to offer her, continued Robert Morton.

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<v Speaker 1>Of course, as you said, she would have the benefit

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<v Speaker 1>of the money in either case. But it makes a

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<v Speaker 1>difference whether it comes to her by the mere right

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<v Speaker 1>of inheritance or whether she takes it from her husband.

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<v Speaker 1>There is a distinction, admitted the elder man. Now that

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<v Speaker 1>you call my attention to it, I can see that readily.

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<v Speaker 1>It is a delicate one, but its consequences are far reaching. Well,

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<v Speaker 1>you shall have your way. A proportion of the legacy

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<v Speaker 1>shall be offered to delight, and the secret regarding it

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<v Speaker 1>shall be yours to keep or divulge as you see fit.

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<v Speaker 1>You are a noble fellow, Bob. I only wish he

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<v Speaker 1>checked the impulsive phrase that rose to his lips, but

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<v Speaker 1>not before the listener had caught its import Mister Snelling

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<v Speaker 1>is a fine man. Mister Galbraith broke in bob, instantly

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<v Speaker 1>dreading the words that might follow. Oh, I know it,

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<v Speaker 1>there is no question about that. The capitalist assented with haste.

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<v Speaker 1>Success is written all over his future, and I know

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<v Speaker 1>he will be a son in law to be proud of.

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<v Speaker 1>He and Cynthia are royally happy too, and no doubt

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<v Speaker 1>know better than I what they want. After all, none

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<v Speaker 1>of us can live other people's lives. Each must work

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<v Speaker 1>out his own. You've said it, mister Galbraith. The financier smiled,

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<v Speaker 1>and his eyes twinkled beneath the shaggy brows that arched them.

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<v Speaker 1>You will have to be getting used to calling me

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<v Speaker 1>by another name, young man, he said, Remember I am

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<v Speaker 1>to be your uncle. End of Chapter twenty one. Recording

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<v Speaker 1>by Roger Moline