Mother Carey and Allen made quite fuss enough
already about that little vixen, and if they discovered how nearly
she had been the sole heiress, they would be far worse. Besides, her
mother might have misgivings, as to this unhappy document being
morally though not legally, binding. Suppose she were seized with a
fit of generosity, and gave all up! or even half. Elfie, the little
shrew, to have equal rights! The sweets of wealth only just tasted
to be resigned, and the child, overweening enough already, to be set
in their newly-gained place!
The sagacity of seventeen decided that mother had better not be
worried about it for her own sake, and that of everyone else. So
what was to be done. No means of burning it were at hand, and to ask
for them might excite suspicion. The safest way was to place it in
one of the drawers of the bureau, lock it up, and keep the key.
CHAPTER XVIII. AN OFFER FOR MAGNUM BONUM.
They had gold and gold and gold without end,
Gold to lay by and gold to spend,
Gold to give and gold to lend,
And reversions of gold in futuro.
In gold his family revelled and rolled,
Himself and his wife and his sons so bold,
And his daughters who sang to their harps of gold
O bella eta dell' oro.
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