human
I came down, Mary, to talk with you about your prospects,
gpt
You must make up your mind precisely what you are going to do. Of course, Sylvester's death doesn't affect you like the loss of a business man such as your brother, my husband, was, but it does settle the question of that invention. Whatever it is, it must remain, so I advise you to see if you can do anything with it, if it has any practical value.
human
There was a Mr. Marston, from New York, here to see it two weeks ago, said Mrs. Grey, quietly.
gpt
We had a letter from him this morning, offering to buy the machine.
human
Well, I am surprised, she said.
gpt
How much did he offer? I hope it will take the mortgage off the house, and leave you a little. But I suppose it wasn't much.
human
No; only four thousand dollars, replied Mrs. Grey.
gpt
Rob thinks he is trying to take advantage of our necessities, or what he hopes will prove necessities.
human
Rob thinks! ejaculated Aunt Azraella.
gpt
Why, Mary, it's a wonderful offer! I hope you wrote at once! If you haven't written, write now, and I'll post the letter when I go out.
human
We haven't decided to accept it,
gpt
Now, Mary Winslow Grey, cried Aunt Azraella,
human
Oh!
gpt
Aunt Azraella, she said,
human
Fifty thousand dollars!
gpt
You see; I told you you had no idea of the value of that invention, said Rob.
human
Pater--our dear father said, the day Mr. Marston was here, that he should refuse an offer of less than fifty thousand dollars. I feel that we have no right to throw it away, for his sake, if not for our own.
gpt
If you don't close with this offer at once it may be withdrawn,
human
That's precisely what Mr. Marston writes, said Mrs. Grey,
gpt
And I think that proves him dishonest, cried Rob.
human
He wants to frighten us into closing with him, because he knows if we took time to investigate, we should find out the true value of the machine. He saw enough when he was here--our doing our own work, and our simple way of living--to guess we should need money now we were alone. He is trying to take advantage of a woman and three young girls, and if I have my way, he won't succeed! I hated him the day he was here--he's a villain, if ever there was one, a smiling villain at that.
gpt
What do you propose doing, then? asked Aunt Azraella, satirically.
human
If you are taking matters into your own hands you ought to have some other plan to propose instead of this certain one--for I hope you realize, Roberta, that you are trying to use your influence with your mother to urge her to throw away a certainty, on the chance of something better, and on the advice of a girl of sixteen, who has as much knowledge of the world as my Tobias has.
gpt
I do realize, aunt, and it frightens me, but I was my father's helper all through the last four years he was working on this machine, and I feel I must stand firm, now that he has left it to me. I know we shall be cheated if we take this offer, and sell the bricquette machine to this Mr. Marston,
human
Mary, Mary, I have no patience! cried Mrs. Winslow.
gpt
Will you, or will you not, listen to reason and be guided by someone with judgment? You see Roberta does not answer my question! Oh, for the land sakes, why do we talk about it as though she were a person to be listened to? What has she to do with it, anyway? I tell you I have no patience. Go over to that desk, and write that man you accept his offer, and I'll post the letter before I go home.
human
I didn't mean not to answer you, Aunt Azraella, said Rob, with new dignity.
gpt
My plan is neither to refuse nor accept, but to write Mr. Marston that we must have a few days in which to look into the matter. If he's an honest man, he won't object; if the machine is worth four thousand dollars to him, he will take it a week later as well as now, and if--and I know it is--it is worth six times that, why, we save ourselves from a trick, that's all.
human
That has a little the ring of sense, she graciously remarked.
gpt
But you must remember that he may have some reason for wanting that machine this moment or never, and it may be worth four thousand to-day, and nothing a week hence, unless he gets it now. That often happens in business matters. Mary, write your note.
human
I confess I'm strongly inclined to your view, Azraella, said Mrs. Grey,
gpt
And what is Oswyth's opinion?
human
I'm a coward, said Wythie, with a faint smile.
gpt
I'm afraid to refuse a certainty of even a small piece of good fortune.
human
Sensible girl! said her aunt, approvingly.
gpt
Then Roberta is the only one that stands out against good luck?
human
Stands _for_ good luck, Aunt Azraella,
gpt
You won't write, Mary?
human
Not to-night; to-morrow will still be time,
gpt
Then I wash my hands of you, and if you come to grief, don't appeal to me for sympathy nor help. I foresee the end; this girl is so headstrong, and will so appeal to your desire to carry out your husband's will, that she will get her way, and your one hope of peace will be gone. You can't help confessing, Mary, no matter how you mourn him, that Sylvester knew nothing of business, and for you to allow sentimentality and a girl's ignorance to wreck you, is little short of criminal.