human
Surely aunt there was nothing left for me to tell--the only money I have, is in your hands, and when you can conveniently let me have it, or part of it, I shall carry my plan into execution.
gpt
There must be some mistake in this, my dear. I have no money of yours, except the half sovereign you kindly lent me the other morning. What do you mean?
human
I am speaking of the six hundred pounds my mamma lent you, from time to time; and which you promised to keep safely for me.
gpt
I promised, my dear, said Mrs. Villars, with well feigned astonishment.
human
I never said or thought of such a thing; but I will tell you how this mistake arose. I did borrow the sums you mention, from time to time, as you say, and you may remember, when your poor dear mother and I met last. The lightning flashed in her eyes, and she covered them with her hands; but the rain had begun to patter against the window, and the thunder rolled, at longer intervals; as the storm abated, she became bolder, and continued--
gpt
Well, at that time, we were very long alone, as, perhaps, you remember. Then she said to me--I remember the very words, and where she was sitting, poor thing--'Caroline,' she said, 'I never had the courage to tell you, that I have often vexed so deeply, to think that, when I married, I accepted a larger portion from our father's generosity than he gave you; and I shall never die happy till I have made it up to you--in order to do that, I shall cancel all your obligations to me, and give you a hundred more to-day.' I begged her to think of her children, and the answer she made was remarkable. 'I would rather leave them honesty than money.' It was so like her, poor thing.
human
Well, my dear, she went to her old secretary--you remember it, I am sure. --Of course she did, a thousand remembrances clung to every old-fashioned article of that dear home; but duplicity and cunning were before her, and she was too shocked to think of them now--
gpt
From that secretary, continued her aunt,
human
There was no fire,
gpt
No, you are right, said Mrs. Villars, colouring violently, for, from that moment, she saw she was suspected.
human
I meant to say she burnt them at the taper I had lighted to seal a letter. And now, you see, there has been a little mistake, which I am sorry for; had you spoken before, it might have been avoided; but, perhaps, you divined what is really the case, that if I wished to give you the money, I have not got it by me; and, therefore, I must take advantage of my poor dear sister's generosity.