CHAPTER XXIII.
PATSY ADOPTS AN UNCLE.
Uncle John and Mr. Watson did not appear at dinner, being closeted inthe former's room. This meal, however, was no longer a state function,being served by the old servants as a mere matter of routine. Indeed,the arrangements of the household had been considerably changed by thedeath of its mistress, and without any real head to direct themthe servants were patiently awaiting the advent of a new master ormistress. It did not seem clear to them yet whether Miss Patricia orLawyer Watson was to take charge of Elmhurst: but there were few tearsshed for Jane Merrick, and the new regime could not fail to be animprovement over the last.
At dinner the young folks chatted together in a friendly and eagermanner concerning the events of the day. They knew of old James'unfortunate end, but being unaware of its import gave it but passingattention. The main subject of conversation was Aunt Jane's surprisingact in annulling her last will and forcing Patricia to accept theinheritance when she did not want it. Kenneth, being at his ease whenalone with the three cousins, protested that it would not be rightfor Patsy to give him all the estate. But, as she was so generous,he would accept enough of his Uncle Tom's money to educate him as anartist and provide for himself an humble home. Louise and Beth, havingat last full knowledge of their cousin's desire to increase theirbequests, were openly very grateful for her good will; althoughsecretly they could not fail to resent Patsy's choice of the boy asthe proper heir of his uncle's fortune. The balance of power seemed tobe in Patricia's hands, however; so it would be folly at this junctureto offend her.
Altogether, they were all better provided for than they had fearedwould be the case; so the little party spent a pleasant evening andseparated early, Beth and Louise to go to their rooms and canvassquietly the events of the day, and the boy to take a long strollthrough the country lanes to cool his bewildered brain. Patsy wrote along letter to the major, telling him she would be home in three days,and then she went to bed and slept peacefully.
After breakfast they were all again summoned to the drawing-room, totheir great surprise. Lawyer Watson and Uncle John were there, lookingas grave as the important occasion demanded, and the former at onceproceeded to relate the scene in James' room, his story of the deathof Thomas Bradley, and the subsequent finding of the will.
"This will, which has just been recovered," continued the lawyer,impressively, "was made subsequent to the one under which JaneMerrick inherited, and therefore supercedes it. Miss Jane had, asyou perceive, a perfect right to the use of the estate during herlifetime, but no right whatever to will a penny of it to anyone. Mr.Bradley having provided for that most fully. For this reason the willI read to you yesterday is of no effect, and Kenneth Forbes inheritsfrom his uncle, through his mother, all of the estate."
Blank looks followed Mr. Watson's statement.
"Good-by to my five thousand," said Uncle John, with his chucklinglaugh. "But I'm much obliged to Jane, nevertheless."
"Don't we get anything at all?" asked Beth, with quivering lip.
"No, my dear," answered the lawyer, gently. "Your aunt owned nothingto give you."
Patsy laughed. She felt wonderfully relieved.
"Wasn't I the grand lady, though, with all the fortune I never had?"she cried merrily. "But 'twas really fine to be rich for a day, andtoss the money around as if I didn't have to dress ten heads of hairin ten hours to earn my bread and butter."
Louise smiled.
"It was all a great farce," she said. "I shall take the afternoontrain to the city. What an old fraud our dear Aunt Jane was! And howfoolish of me to return her hundred dollar check."
"I used mine," said Beth, bitterly. "It's all I'll ever get, itseems." And then the thought of the Professor and his debts overcameher and she burst, into tears.
The boy sat doubled within his chair, so overcome by the extraordinaryfortune that had overtaken him that he could not speak, nor think evenclearly as yet.
Patsy tried to comfort Beth.
"Never mind, dear," said she. "We're no worse off than before wecame, are we? And we've had a nice vacation. Let's forget alldisappointments and be grateful to Aunt Jane's memory. As far as sheknew, she tried to be good to us."
"I'm going home today," said Beth, angrily drying her eyes.
"We'll all go home," said Patsy, cheerfully.
"For my part," remarked Uncle John, in a grave voice, "I have nohome."
Patsy ran up and put her arm around his neck.
"Poor Uncle John!" she cried. "Why, you're worse off than any of us.What's going to become of you, I wonder?"
"I'm wondering that myself," said the little man, meekly.
"Ah! You can stay here," said the boy, suddenly arousing from hisapathy.
"No," replied Uncle John, "the Merricks are out of Elmhurst now, andit returns to its rightful owners. You owe me nothing, my lad."
"But I like you," said Kenneth, "and you're old and homeless. Stay atElmhurst, and you shall always be welcome."
Uncle John seemed greatly affected, and wrung the boy's handearnestly. But he shook his head.
"I've wandered all my life," he said. "I can wander yet."
"See here," exclaimed Patsy. "We're all three your nieces, and we'lltake care of you between us. Won't we, girls?"
Louise smiled rather scornfully, and Beth scowled.
"My mother and I live so simply in our little flat," said one, "thatwe really haven't extra room to keep a cat. But we shall be glad toassist Uncle John as far as we are able."
"Father can hardly support his own family," said the other; "but Iwill talk to my mother about Uncle John when I get home, and see whatshe says."
"Oh, you don't need to, indeed!" cried Patsy, in great indignation."Uncle John is my dear mother's brother, and he's to come and livewith the Major and me, as long as he cares to. There's room and tospare, Uncle," turning to him and clasping his hand, "and a joyfulwelcome into the bargain. No, no! say nothing at all, sir! Come youshall, if I have to drag you; and if you act naughty I'll send for theMajor to punish you!"
Uncle John's eyes were moist. He looked on Patsy most affectionatelyand cast a wink at Lawyer Watson, who stood silently by.
"Thank you, my dear," said he; "but where's the money to come from?"
"Money? Bah!" she said. "Doesn't the Major earn a heap with hisbookkeeping, and haven't I had a raise lately? Why, we'll be as snugand contented as pigs in clover. Can you get ready to come with metoday, Uncle John?"
"Yes," he said slowly. "I'll be ready, Patsy."
So the exodus from Elmhurst took place that very day, and Bethtravelled in one direction, while Louise, Patsy and Uncle John tookthe train for New York. Louise had a seat in the parlor car, but Patsylaughed at such extravagance.
"It's so much easier than walking," she said to Uncle John, "that thecommon car is good enough," and the old man readily agreed with her.
Kenneth and Mr. Watson came to the station to see them off, and theyparted with many mutual expressions of friendship and good will.Louise, especially, pressed an urgent invitation upon the new masterof Elmhurst to visit her mother in New York, and he said he hoped tosee all the girls again. They were really like cousins to him, by thistime. And after they were all gone he rode home on Nora's back quitedisconsolate, in spite of his wonderful fortune.
The lawyer, who had consented to stay at the mansion for a time, thatthe boy might not be lonely, had already mapped put a plan for theyoung heir's advancement. As he rode beside Kenneth he said:
"You ought to travel, and visit the art centers of Europe, and I shalltry to find a competent tutor to go with you."
"Can't you go yourself?" asked the boy.
The lawyer hesitated.
"I'm getting old, and my clients are few and unimportant, aside fromthe Elmhurst interests," he said. "Perhaps I can manage to go abroadwith you."
"I'd like that," declared the boy. "And we'd stop in New York,wouldn't we, for a time?"
"Of course. Do you want to visit N
ew York especially?"
"Yes."
"It's rather a stupid city," said the lawyer, doubtfully.
"That may be," answered the boy. "But Patsy will be there, you know."