That means financial uncertainty."
His suspicion of me started up from its doze and rubbed its eyes. "Ah! You
wish to insure yourself."
"Yes," was my answer, "but not in the way you hint. It takes away a man's
courage just when he needs it most, to feel that his family is involved in
his venture."
"Why do you not make the settlement direct?" he asked, partly reassured.
"Because I wish her to feel that it is her own, that I have no right over
it whatever."
He thought about this. His eyes were keen as he said, "Is that your real
reason?"
I saw I must be unreserved with him. "Part of it," I replied. "The rest
is--she would not take it from me."
The old man smiled cynically. "Have you tried?" he inquired.
"If I had tried and failed, she would have been on the alert for an
indirect attempt."
"Try her, young man," said he, laughing. "In this day there are few people
anywhere who'd refuse any sum from anybody for anything. And a woman--and a
New York woman--and a New York fashionable woman--and a daughter of old
Ellersly--she'll take it as a baby takes the breast."
"She would not take it," said I.
My tone, though I strove to keep angry protest out of it, because I needed
him, caused him to draw back instantly.
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