"Then Linda is--Linda will be poor?" Miss Barry asked it in hushed tones.
"Comparatively, yes; she will call it poor, but I know Linda. She would wish justice done. I want to see her. I must see her, in fact, as soon as she is able to meet me with Harriet. I know what Mr. Barry would wish, but it must be a mutual agreement. I'm not forgetting, Miss Barry," added the young man, kindly, "that this hits you financially too."
"You mean my allowance? I'm very thankful, Mr. King, that I've spent but little of it, and I have the home my dear brother gave me. I never felt perfectly certain that there wouldn't be any reverses. Business men when they get as rich as Lambert are like aëronauts. Who can tell when some current of wind they didn't count on will strike their ship?"
"I'm glad you've been so wise. I assure you that since the catastrophe I have often thought of you."
Miss Barry regarded the speaker kindly. The difficulties of his position surged upon her.
"Have I told you I left Mrs. Porter in my house?"
"Yes; she was there when the message came, and she helped me in every way. Best of all, she was willing to see that nobody ran off with my cottage while I was gone."
"I wish she were here with Linda, though," said King. "I believe she could get nearer to her than anybody."
"I suppose there isn't any doubt," returned Miss Barry without enthusiasm, "that my niece will go to her. There don't seem any doubt that I ought to take her home with me and let the sea tone her up. She may prefer to stay with Harriet. I shall give her her choice. I suppose this house will be sold."
"I suppose so. That is one of the things Linda will have to help decide."
They sat for a moment in silence, Miss Barry liking her companion better and better, finding it easy to believe on general principles that Linda had been cruel to him.
King rose suddenly from his brown study. "Will you give her these flowers, please?" he said, indicating a box that lay on a chair. "I shall get Harriet to arrange a meeting for us to discuss the matters that are pressing."
Miss Barry rose, and they looked into one another's eyes.
"I had hoped that it might be some comfort to Linda to see me, as one who stood so close to her father," said King wistfully.