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<v Speaker 1>Chapter twenty two 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 two, Delight makes her

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<v Speaker 1>decision Zenas Henry Brewster sat on the edge of his veranda,

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<v Speaker 1>his long legs crossed before him with a certain angular grace,

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<v Speaker 1>and his corn cob pipe held rigidly between his teeth.

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<v Speaker 1>Beside him, ranged like sparrows on a telegraph wire, were

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<v Speaker 1>Captain Phineas Taylor, Captain Jonas Baker, and Captain Benjamin Todd.

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<v Speaker 1>From the row of pipes, a miniature cloud of smoke ascended.

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<v Speaker 1>But save for the distant pulsing of the sea and

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<v Speaker 1>the murmur of the wind in the linden near the door,

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<v Speaker 1>not a sound was to be heard through the afternoon stillness. Yet,

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<v Speaker 1>in spite of the tranquility of the day and the

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<v Speaker 1>apparent peace of the four figures that gazed so movably

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<v Speaker 1>out upon the reach of blue, an electrical current of

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<v Speaker 1>suspense was evident in the four tense forms. They were

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<v Speaker 1>not looking at the bay, exquisite as it was in

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<v Speaker 1>its cerulean beauty. Instead, the head of each man was

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<v Speaker 1>turned toward the road that skirted the harbor and wound

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<v Speaker 1>its way between the pines at the foot of the

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<v Speaker 1>hill where the White cottage stood. He ought to be

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<v Speaker 1>comin pretty soon, hadn't he. Captain Phineas ventured at last,

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<v Speaker 1>Unable longer to restrain his impatience, he said four o'clock

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<v Speaker 1>in his letter. It must be almost that, don't you

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<v Speaker 1>think mighty nigh unto it? Replied Captain Benjamin As. I

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<v Speaker 1>reckon it, having made the necessary allowances for my watch

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<v Speaker 1>losing three and a quarter minutes an hour, it should

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<v Speaker 1>be about four now it ain't but a quarter of four,

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<v Speaker 1>sniffed Captain Jonas, with an error of superiority. That time

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<v Speaker 1>piece of yours, Benjamin, ain't worth a silver that was

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<v Speaker 1>put into it. What's the use of having a watch

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<v Speaker 1>that keeps you figurin backwards and forwards and doin' sums

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<v Speaker 1>all day? I wouldn't be bothered with it, Captain Benjamin

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<v Speaker 1>bridled with indignation. I don't see, but my watch as

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<v Speaker 1>good as yours, retorted he. The only difference is I'm

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<v Speaker 1>addin from mornin till night, while you're subtracting the discomfited

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<v Speaker 1>Captain Baker frowned. Mine comes out even minutes anyhow, announced

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<v Speaker 1>he if it does shoot a head sum, it don't

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<v Speaker 1>keep me reckonin in fractions like yours does. I'd see

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<v Speaker 1>myself in Davy Jones's locker for I'd go Addin three

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<v Speaker 1>quarter minutes together from sunrise to sunset. Oh Addin fractions

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<v Speaker 1>is mighty good trainin for Benjamin, put in the peace

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<v Speaker 1>loving Captain Phineas with a chuckle. It keeps his arithmetic

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<v Speaker 1>brushed up. I'll bet you he could beat you at

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<v Speaker 1>a sum Jonas, the triumphant Captain Benjamin observed a complacent silence.

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<v Speaker 1>Let Benjamin in his watch alone. Jonas drawled Zenus Henry

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<v Speaker 1>speaking for the first time. Somebody in the house has

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<v Speaker 1>got to be up on mathematics, and it may as

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<v Speaker 1>well be Benjamin as another I'm only sorry his ticker

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<v Speaker 1>holds him. Just to add, if it would only make

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<v Speaker 1>him multiply and divide some and take him into square root,

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<v Speaker 1>it would give him a liberal all around education. Still,

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<v Speaker 1>there's always hopes it may take a new turn. The

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<v Speaker 1>last time it went overboard, there was indications that wouldn't

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<v Speaker 1>be long before twould be leading him into algebra and

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<v Speaker 1>the fourth dimension. Captain Benjamin grinned at the sally. It

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<v Speaker 1>won't be goin overboard no more now, Zenus, Henry responded,

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<v Speaker 1>he serenely, cause since the sea gull's got that eel

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<v Speaker 1>grass proof contrivance hitch to her, there won't be no

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<v Speaker 1>call for me to be lyin head downwards. Astern I'll

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<v Speaker 1>be settin up like a Christian in future, all of

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<v Speaker 1>us will my soul. But Bob Morton and Willie Spence

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<v Speaker 1>did a good job on that boat. It's somethin to

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<v Speaker 1>have a young chap with brains like that marryin into

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<v Speaker 1>the family. I'll bet there's almost nothing on earth he

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<v Speaker 1>couldn't tackle. You're right, Captain Phineas chimed in. If Delight's

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<v Speaker 1>got to get married, and we'd be a lot of

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<v Speaker 1>selfish brutes not to want her to. She certainly has

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<v Speaker 1>picked a promisin' husband. You can lose money fling it

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<v Speaker 1>away or have it stolen from you, but you can't

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<v Speaker 1>lose brains. That's so Phineas, that's so Zenas, Henry said.

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<v Speaker 1>Besides taint as if he was taking her to Indiana,

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<v Speaker 1>New York ain't far Why I'll stake a ketch a mackerel.

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<v Speaker 1>We could fetch up at that Long Island place in

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<v Speaker 1>the sea gull. Of course we could, Zenus Henry, agreed

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<v Speaker 1>Captain Jonas, flashing a glance of affection into his friend's face.

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<v Speaker 1>There's no question about it. Take a good clear day

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<v Speaker 1>and the sea runnin' right. We could make it without

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<v Speaker 1>a mite of trouble. Long Island wouldn't be anything of

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<v Speaker 1>a cruise. No place that we can sail to in

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<v Speaker 1>our own boat is far away. A listener of discrimination

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<v Speaker 1>might have detected in the dialog a note of assumed optimism,

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<v Speaker 1>and suspected that the four old men, seated like images

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<v Speaker 1>on the piazza rail were trying to buoy up one

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<v Speaker 1>another's courage, and in the assumption he would not perhaps

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<v Speaker 1>have been far wrong. What do you suppose this Galbraith

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<v Speaker 1>has up his sleeve, Zenus Henry, that he should be

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<v Speaker 1>comin over here? Captain Benjamin Todd speculated, during a lapse

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<v Speaker 1>in the conversation. He has some scheme in mind. You

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<v Speaker 1>can be sure of that. Why do you always go

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<v Speaker 1>rootin up evil like as if you was diggin for clams?

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<v Speaker 1>Benjamin inquired, Captain Phineas impatiently. All mister Galbraith said was

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<v Speaker 1>he wanted to see Zenus Henry. There surely is no

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<v Speaker 1>harm in that delight beIN his niece. It's only to

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<v Speaker 1>be expected he'd want to get sight of the folks.

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<v Speaker 1>She is livin with most natural thing in the world.

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<v Speaker 1>It seems to me it would be queerer if he

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<v Speaker 1>didn't show no interest in the people who have brought

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<v Speaker 1>her up. That's so, Phineas. Captain Jonas echoed, nothin's likelier

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<v Speaker 1>than that. He's comin to sort of thank Zenus Henry.

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<v Speaker 1>Thank us. Zenus Henry burst out, thank us for bringing

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<v Speaker 1>up our own child. What business is it of his?

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<v Speaker 1>Do we go trapes into Bellport to thank him for

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<v Speaker 1>beIN good to his children? No, no, Zenus Henry, Captain

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<v Speaker 1>Phineas replied soothingly. Of course, he ain't comin here to

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<v Speaker 1>thank us. That would be plumb ridiculous. More probable, he's comin,

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<v Speaker 1>as I said, to make a friendly call, since he's

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<v Speaker 1>a relative. But in spite of this reassurance, the ripple

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<v Speaker 1>of misgiving had not entirely died away. Before the well

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<v Speaker 1>known touring car with the new York Financier and its

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<v Speaker 1>toneau made its appearance at the foot of the hill.

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<v Speaker 1>He's comin, Zenus Henry, there he is, that's him, was

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<v Speaker 1>the excited comment. But Zenus Henry maintained a grim silence.

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<v Speaker 1>He had risen to his full height and now stood

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<v Speaker 1>braced to meet an ordeal which he dreaded far more

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<v Speaker 1>than he would have been willing to admit. His gaunt

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<v Speaker 1>figure was stiff with resolution, his jaw set, his lips compressed.

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<v Speaker 1>It was the same expression his countenance had worn the

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<v Speaker 1>night he had gone forth into the storm to rescue

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<v Speaker 1>the sinking crew of the Micheline from probable death. It

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<v Speaker 1>was the expression his companion dreaded and feared, the fighter

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<v Speaker 1>ready for combat. Yet his antagonist, as he alighted from

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<v Speaker 1>the motor car and crossed the grass in leisurely fashion,

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<v Speaker 1>appeared to be anything but a formidable adversary. He came

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<v Speaker 1>toward Delight, who had hurried out to meet him, with

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<v Speaker 1>easy friendliness, his hands extended and a smile of genuine

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<v Speaker 1>affection on his face. I am glad to see you,

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<v Speaker 1>my dear, he said, and in your own home too.

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<v Speaker 1>I fancy you must have thought me a great while

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<v Speaker 1>in coming. I was detained in New York much longer

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<v Speaker 1>than I expected. Otherwise you would have seen me days ago.

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<v Speaker 1>She smiled up into the kindly gray eyes. And my, my, my,

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<v Speaker 1>what a lot of mischief you and Bob have been

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<v Speaker 1>getting into in my absence, you sly little puss. You

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<v Speaker 1>may well blush the bare idea of your springing a

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<v Speaker 1>surprise like that on your new uncle. Bob has told

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<v Speaker 1>me all about it. He suddenly became grave, and I

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<v Speaker 1>am very glad for you both. You could not have

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<v Speaker 1>chosen a finer husband, little girl. Robert Morton is one

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<v Speaker 1>man in a thousand. We'll talk more of him by

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<v Speaker 1>and by just now, I wish to meet all your family.

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<v Speaker 1>You must p each one so that I shall not

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<v Speaker 1>get all these many captains confused. How simply and naturally

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<v Speaker 1>he bridged the awkwardness of the moment Before they realized it,

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<v Speaker 1>Abby and the three veteran seafarers were chatting gaily with

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<v Speaker 1>the visitor, and even Zemus Henry was venturing out of

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<v Speaker 1>his reserve and unbending into geniality, when the words and

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<v Speaker 1>now to business chilled the warmth of his mood and

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<v Speaker 1>sent him back into his shell thrilling with vague forebodings,

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<v Speaker 1>with every eye fixed expectantly upon him, mister Galbraith took

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<v Speaker 1>off his panama and fanned himself. Now that we have

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<v Speaker 1>put together a few of the links that bind our

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<v Speaker 1>two families, he began and laid the foundation for a

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<v Speaker 1>friendship which I hope the future will foster. There are

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<v Speaker 1>a few intimate matters of which I wish to speak. First.

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<v Speaker 1>There is Bob Morton, and if you want any reassuring

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<v Speaker 1>as to his character, I can give it to you.

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<v Speaker 1>Your own wise and shrewd discrimination has led you to

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<v Speaker 1>accept him at his face value, and your estimate of

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<v Speaker 1>him has not been a mistaken one. I do not

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<v Speaker 1>think there is a young man in the world of

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<v Speaker 1>greater sterling worth than the one your daughter has chosen

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<v Speaker 1>for a husband. At the firm emphasis on the word daughter,

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<v Speaker 1>zenus Henry's jaw relaxed. Of course, you feel the same

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<v Speaker 1>anxiety for your child that I feel for mine, and

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<v Speaker 1>realize how much a woman's happiness depends on the man

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<v Speaker 1>into whose hand she puts her life. In giving up Cynthia,

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<v Speaker 1>I know what it means to you to give up delight.

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<v Speaker 1>We parents cannot expect to have all the joy and

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<v Speaker 1>none of the suffering that comes with having children. However,

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<v Speaker 1>he looked at Zenus Henry, and a quiet sympathy passed

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<v Speaker 1>from one man to the other. But we should be selfish, indeed,

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<v Speaker 1>were we to deny to those we love the best

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<v Speaker 1>gift Heaven has to bestow. It is making others happy

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<v Speaker 1>in their way, not in ours, that tests our real

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<v Speaker 1>affection for them. And so I know that underneath all

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<v Speaker 1>your personal regrets, you rejoice in the prospect of Delight's marriage,

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<v Speaker 1>as I rejoice in Cynthia's. We shall not always be

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<v Speaker 1>in this world to safeguard our daughters. How much better

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<v Speaker 1>to see their future in the protection of younger and

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<v Speaker 1>stronger men than ourselves. Yes, yes, murmured Zenus Henry. And

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<v Speaker 1>now I want to speak to Delight. Although I am

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<v Speaker 1>sure she will wish you to hear what I have

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<v Speaker 1>to say to her, it is a matter of business

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<v Speaker 1>about which she alone can decide. When Madame Lee, her grandmother, died,

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<v Speaker 1>she left a large property in real estate and securities,

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<v Speaker 1>which she willed outright to an old friend of whom

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<v Speaker 1>she was devotedly fond. She felt the Galbraiths were amply

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<v Speaker 1>provided for, and therefore, with the exception of certain jewels

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<v Speaker 1>and heirlooms that were to be retained in the family,

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<v Speaker 1>she bequeathed them nothing. We understood the motives that governed

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<v Speaker 1>her in thus disposing of her property, and were in

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<v Speaker 1>full accord with them. The document, however, was drawn up

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<v Speaker 1>before she knew of the existence of this other granddaughter,

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<v Speaker 1>And in view of this fact, the person to whom

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<v Speaker 1>the property is willed feels that it is only just

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<v Speaker 1>that the whole or a part of it should be

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<v Speaker 1>relinquished in Delight's favor. There was an instant's pause. This

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<v Speaker 1>the beneficiary does of his own accord, not alone as

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<v Speaker 1>a matter of duty or as a matter of honor,

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<v Speaker 1>but because his affection was so deep from Madam Lee,

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<v Speaker 1>that it is a pleasure to him to act as

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<v Speaker 1>he thinks she would have desired. Had not her end

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<v Speaker 1>come so suddenly, she would without doubt have made a

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<v Speaker 1>new will and done this herself. You mean that, without

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<v Speaker 1>courts or lawyers asking him to, this man just wants

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<v Speaker 1>to hand over the money, gasped Captain Jonas. Yes, well,

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<v Speaker 1>I don't know who he is, but I'll say this

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<v Speaker 1>much for him. He's an honest cuss ejaculated the fisherman

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<v Speaker 1>in spite of his earnestness. Mister Galbraith smiled delight. However,

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<v Speaker 1>had risen during the interval of silence, and with nervously

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<v Speaker 1>clasped hands, had gone to zenas Henry's side, where she

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<v Speaker 1>now stood, her eyes low large with thought. Her uncle

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<v Speaker 1>turned toward her. Well, my dear, what have you to say,

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<v Speaker 1>he asked. It is very kind of a stranger to

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<v Speaker 1>be so noble, so generous, she declared gently. He mustn't

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<v Speaker 1>think that I do not appreciate it. But I couldn't

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<v Speaker 1>take a cent of the money. She went on with

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<v Speaker 1>quick decision. Even had it been willed to me in

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<v Speaker 1>the first place, it would have made no difference. I

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<v Speaker 1>don't want to be unkind or to hurt anybody's feelings.

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<v Speaker 1>But can't you see that Madame Lee was really nothing

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<v Speaker 1>in my life. She came in and went out of

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<v Speaker 1>it like a phantom. And she did not begin to

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<v Speaker 1>mean to me what she did to this old friend

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<v Speaker 1>of hers. Just because at the close of her days

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<v Speaker 1>it was discovered that I was of her kin, it

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<v Speaker 1>established no bond of affection between nothing but a legal claim.

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<v Speaker 1>If she had lived, and we had grown dear to

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<v Speaker 1>one another, and she had given the fortune to me

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<v Speaker 1>out of her heart, then I should have accepted it gladly.

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<v Speaker 1>But to have it bestowed on me merely by right

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<v Speaker 1>of succession, I couldn't think of touching a penny of it.

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<v Speaker 1>She caught her breath, and her chin rose a trifle higher.

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<v Speaker 1>And besides, she continued, I would rather just be indebted

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<v Speaker 1>to Zenus Henry and my own family. My grandmother was

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<v Speaker 1>unjust to my parents, unkind, although she lived to be

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<v Speaker 1>sorry for it, and would doubtless have done differently when

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<v Speaker 1>she was older. She was harsh and cruel to them.

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<v Speaker 1>I have forgiven, but I never can forget it. I

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<v Speaker 1>don't want the Lee money. Zenus Henry and the three

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<v Speaker 1>captains give me all I need, and I have no

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<v Speaker 1>fears but that in the future Bob can look out

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<v Speaker 1>for me. There was something in the proudly poised figure,

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<v Speaker 1>so slender and erect, so firm and self respecting, in

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<v Speaker 1>its calm decision, that roused every hearer's admiration, and drew

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<v Speaker 1>from the New York Financier an involuntary homage. Nevertheless, with

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<v Speaker 1>the fear that impulse might have prompted the girl's verdict,

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<v Speaker 1>He felt impelled to explain, but you are tossing away

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<v Speaker 1>a large sum thousands, child, You and deure people would

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<v Speaker 1>be rich. We don't want to be rich, cried delight,

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<v Speaker 1>with quivering nostril. Do we zenas Henry. She slipped an

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<v Speaker 1>arm about his neck as he collapsed into his seat

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<v Speaker 1>on the piazza rail We are happy just as we are.

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<v Speaker 1>You don't want me to take the lee money, do you,

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<v Speaker 1>she asked, putting her cheek against his. No, honey, no,

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<v Speaker 1>you shan't be beholden to any one but me, he answered.

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<v Speaker 1>I hope you'd decide as you have twould take half

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<v Speaker 1>the pleasure out of my life. If it warn't us

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<v Speaker 1>that was to do for you. Just the same, mister Galbraith,

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<v Speaker 1>We thank you kindly for bringin the offer, and your

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<v Speaker 1>friend for makin it. And though we refuse it tain't

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<v Speaker 1>done in no unfriendly spirit. I understand that, nodded the financier. Nevertheless,

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<v Speaker 1>he gazed with no small amount of awe and respect

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<v Speaker 1>at these poor fisherfolk who could so lightly fling aside

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<v Speaker 1>a fortune. Maybe, resumed zenus Henry, you'll tell this friend

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<v Speaker 1>of Madame Lee's that we've took note of his squareness. Oh, yes,

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<v Speaker 1>do tell him that it was splendid of him, splendid

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<v Speaker 1>interrupted delight. He's a gentleman, whoever he is. Captain Phineas added,

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<v Speaker 1>tell him so from all of us. You might like

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<v Speaker 1>to tell him so yourselves, returned mister Galbraith slowly, eh Zenus,

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<v Speaker 1>Henry questioned, Oh, we might write em. You mean that's

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<v Speaker 1>so likely. It would be more decent. We'd be surer

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<v Speaker 1>of his knowin how we felt if it was put

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<v Speaker 1>down in black and white? What's his name? Robert Morton?

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<v Speaker 1>Robert Morton, Robert mor not our not Bob. Yes, he

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<v Speaker 1>saw a delight flush and her eyes suddenly filled with tears. Bob,

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<v Speaker 1>she whispered, half aloud, Bob Zenus hen He drew her closer.

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<v Speaker 1>What does the girl want with money, he demanded, When

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<v Speaker 1>she's got a man like that, he's better than all

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<v Speaker 1>the money on earth. But she'll get the money just

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<v Speaker 1>the same, Zenas Henry piped, Captain Jonas, she'll get it.

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<v Speaker 1>Have you thought of that? It'll be Bob's money, not mine, returned,

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<v Speaker 1>delight with shy dignity, end of Chapter twenty two. Recording

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<v Speaker 1>by Roger Moline