"And your
reference to Barbara does not do you credit. If I were your wife I
suppose I'd rise coldly now and sweep upstairs to leave you alone with
your bad mood. But being merely your sister I remain to hear you
apologize. Barbara is not yet married to Wickersham, I might add."
"I am exceedingly sorry," said Caleb.
"And, without any reason for it, save my womanly intuition, I feel very
certain that she will never marry him," Miss Sarah went on. "But you
spoke about Steve having no one upon whom he could depend for
assistance, and it was really a helpful hint to me. Did I fail to hear
you say how they seemed to get on together?"
"She didn't think he was good enough for her, ten years ago," growled
Caleb. "She wouldn't think so, now. He cares for her, so she treats
him like a dog, of course."
Miss Sarah had to smile.
"Then I think it is high time I did something about it," she stated
thoughtfully. "For she is a lovable girl, and she hasn't any mother of
her own. She's very pretty and little and finer than any girl I know.
If she weren't, Steve would not be in love with her, I am sure. And
Dexter Allison is no doubt an estimable man in many ways, even though,
as you feel positive, he has a tendency to acquisitiveness which is
deplorable. Your continued regard for him convinces me of that. I
wish, however, that Steve was not so entirely dependent upon what he
earns.
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