CHAPTER XXVIII.
AN UNSATISFACTORY CONFERENCE.
Mr. Carter was taking articles from a bureau and packing them away in anopen trunk, when Mrs. Pitkin entered with Alonzo. It is needless tosay that his niece regarded his employment with dismay, for it showedclearly that he proposed to leave the shelter of her roof.
"Uncle Oliver!" she exclaimed, sinking into a chair and gazing at theold gentleman spell-bound.
Mr. Carter, whose back had been turned, turned about and faced hisniece.
"Oh, it is you, Lavinia!" he said quietly.
"What are you doing?" asked his niece.
"As you see, I am packing my trunk."
"Do you intend to leave us?" faltered Mrs. Pitkin.
"I think it will be well for me to make a change," said Mr. Carter.
"This is, indeed, a sad surprise," said Mrs Pitkin mournfully. "When didyou return from Florida?"
"I have never been there. I changed my mind when I reached Charleston."
"How long have you been in the city?"
"About a week."
"And never came near us. This is, indeed, unkind. In what way have weoffended you?" and Mrs. Pitkin put her handkerchief to her eyes.
There were no tears in them, but she was making an attempt to touch theheart of her uncle.
"Are you aware that Rebecca Forbush is in the city?" asked the oldgentleman abruptly.
"Ye-es," answered Mrs. Pitkin, startled.
"Have you seen her?"
"Ye-es. She came here one day."
"And how did you treat her?" asked Mr. Carter, severely. "Did you notturn the poor woman from the house, having no regard for her evidentpoverty? Did you not tell her that I was very angry with her, and wouldnot hear her name mentioned?"
"Ye-es, I may have said so. You know, Uncle Oliver, you have held nocommunication with her for many years."
"That is true--more shame to me!"
"And I thought I was carrying out your wishes in discouraging hervisits."
"You also thought that she might be a dangerous rival in my favor, andmight deprive you and Alonzo of an expected share in my estate."
"Oh, Uncle Oliver! how can you think so poorly of me?"
Mr. Carter eyed his niece with a half-smile.
"So I do you injustice, do I, Lavinia?" he returned.
"Yes, great injustice."
"I am glad to hear it. I feel less objection now to telling you what aremy future plans."
"What are they?" asked Mrs. Pitkin apprehensively.
"I have lived for ten years under your roof, and have had nocommunication, as you say, with Rebecca. I think it is only fair nowthat I should show her some attention. I have accordingly installed heras mistress of my house in Madison Avenue, and shall henceforth make myhome with her."
Mrs. Pitkin felt as if the earth was sinking under her feet. The hopesand schemes of so many years had come to naught, and her hated anddreaded cousin was to be constantly in the society of the rich uncle.
"Rebecca has played her cards well," she said bitterly.
"She has not played them at all. She did not seek me. I sought her."
"How did you know she was in the city?"
"I learned it from--Philip!"
There was fresh dismay.
"So that boy has wormed his way into your confidence!" said Mrs.Pitkin bitterly. "After acting so badly that Mr. Pitkin was obliged todischarge him, he ran to you to do us a mischief."
"Why was he discharged?" demanded Mr. Carter sternly. "Why did yourhusband seize the opportunity to get rid of a boy in whom he knew me tobe interested as soon as he thought I was out of the way? Why, moreover,did he refuse the boy a reference, without which Philip could scarcelyhope to get employment?"
"You will have to ask Mr. Pitkin. I am sure he had good reason for thecourse he took. He's an impudent, low upstart in my opinion."
"So he is, ma!" chimed in Alonzo, with heartiness.
"Ah! I have something to say to you, Alonzo," said Mr. Carter, turninghis keen glances upon the boy. "What became of that letter I gave to youto post just before I went away?"
"I put it in the letter-box," said Alonzo nervously.
"Do you know what was in it?"
"No," answered Alonzo, but he looked frightened.
"There were ten dollars in it. That letter never reached Phil, to whomit was addressed."
"I--don't know anything about it," faltered Alonzo.
"There are ways of finding out whether letters have been posted," saidMr. Carter. "I might put a detective on the case."
Alonzo turned pale, and looked much discomposed.
"Of what are you accusing my boy?" asked Mrs. Pitkin, ready to contendfor her favorite. "So that boy has been telling lies about him, has he?and you believe scandalous stories about your own flesh and blood?"
"Not exactly that, Lavinia."
"Well, your near relation, and that on the testimony of a boy you knownothing about. When Lonny is so devoted to you, too!"
"I never noticed any special devotion," said Mr. Carter, amused. "Youare mistaken, however, about Philip trying to injure him. I simply askedPhilip whether he had received such a letter, and he said no."
"I dare say he did receive it," said Mrs. Pitkin spitefully.
"We won't argue the matter now," said the old gentleman. "I will onlysay that you and Alonzo, and Mr. Pitkin also, have gone the wrong wayto work to secure my favor. You have done what you could to injure twopersons, one your own cousin, because you were jealous."
"You judge me very hardly, uncle," said Mrs. Pitkin, seeing that shemust adopt a different course. "I have no bad feeling against Rebecca,and as to the boy, I will ask my husband to take him back into thestore. I am sure he will do it, because you wish it."
"I don't wish it," answered Mr. Carter, rather unexpectedly.
"Oh, well," answered Mrs. Pitkin, looking relieved, "that is as yousay."
"I have other views for Philip," said Mr. Carter. "He is with me as myprivate secretary."
"Is he living with you?" asked his niece, in alarm.
"Yes."
"There was no need of taking a stranger, Uncle Oliver. We should be gladto have Alonzo act as your secretary, though of course we should wanthim to stay at home."
"I shall not deprive you of Alonzo," said Mr. Carter, with a tinge ofsarcasm in his tone. "Philip will suit me better."
Mr. Carter turned and resumed his packing.
"Are you quite determined to leave us?" asked Mrs. Pitkin, in a subduedtone.
"Yes; it will be better."
"But you will come back--say after a few weeks?"
"No, I think not," he answered dryly.
"And shall we not see you at all?"
"Oh, I shall call from time to time, and besides, you will know where Iam, and can call whenever you desire."
"People will talk about your leaving us," complained Mrs. Pitkin.
"Let them talk. I never agreed to have my movements controlled bypeople's gossip. And now, Lavinia, I shall have to neglect you andresume my packing. To-morrow I shall bring Philip here to help me."
"Would you like to have Alonzo help you, Uncle Oliver?"
This offer, much to Alonzo's relief, was declined. He feared that heshould be examined more closely by the old gentleman about the missingmoney, which at that very moment he had in his pocket.
Mrs. Pitkin went down stairs feeling angry and baffled. All that shehad done to retain her ascendency over Uncle Oliver had failed, and Mrs.Forbush and Philip seemed to have superseded herself and Alonzo in hisregard. She conferred with Mr. Pitkin on his return from the store,but the more they considered the matter the worse it looked for theirprospects.
Could anything be done?