"Here
we are, with plenty of money and not a relation on earth but you
to leave it to. You belong to us by rights. We'd be tickled to
death to have you, and for you to have what's left of the money
when we get through with it. May I come after you? Say the
word, and I'll start this minute."
"Oh, Uncle Jim, could you? Would you?" cried Eileen.
"Well, I'd say I could. We'd be tickled to death, I tell you!"
"How long would it take you to get here?" said Eileen.
"Well, I could reach you by noon tomorrow. Eleven something is
the shortest time it's been made in; that would give me thirteen
--more than enough. Are you in that much of a hurry?"
"Yes," gasped Eileen, "yes, I am in the biggest kind of a hurry
there is, Uncle Jim. This troublesome little estate has to be
settled tomorrow afternoon. There's going to be complaint about
everything that I have seen fit to do. I've been hounded and
harassed till I am disgusted with it. Then I've promised to
marry John Gilman as I wrote you, and I don't believe you would
think that was my best chance with the opportunities you could
give me. It seems foolish to stay here, abused as I have been
lately, and as I will be tomorrow. You have the house number.
If you come and get me out of it by noon tomorrow, I'll go with
you. You may take out those adoption papers you have always
entreated me to agree to and I'll be a daughter that you can be
proud of. It will be a relief to have some real money and some
real position, and to breathe freely and be myself once more.
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