"As I have said, Mr. Underwood, in the hurry and excitement of the last
week or so before my going away I was forced to neglect some business
matters; but if I will straighten everything into satisfactory shape and
repay that small loan, as I still regard it, I hope then that our former
pleasant relations will be resumed, and that no little misapprehension
of this sort will make any difference between us."
"Walcott," said Mr. Underwood, rising on his crutches and preparing to
leave the room, "I had absolute confidence in you; I trusted you
implicitly. Your own conduct has shaken that confidence, and it may be
some time before it is wholly restored. We will continue business as
before; but remember, you are on probation, sir--on probation!"
When Kate Underwood received her father's letter, instead of prolonging
her visit she at once prepared to return home. She understood that the
barrier between her father and herself had been swept away, and nothing
could then hold her back from him.
Two days later, as Mr. Underwood was seated by the fire on his return
from the office, there came a ring at the door which he took to be the
postman's. Mrs. Dean answered the door.
"Any letter from Kate?" he asked, as his sister returned.
"Yes, there's a pretty good-sized one," she replied, with a broad smile,
adding, as he glanced in surprise at her empty hands, "I didn't bring
it; 'twas too heavy!"
The next instant two arms were thrown about his neck, a slender figure
was kneeling beside him, and a fair young face was pressed close to his,
while words of endearment were murmured in his ear.
Without a word he clasped her to his breast, holding her for a few
moments as though he feared to let her go. Then, relaxing his hold, he
playfully pinched her cheeks and stroked the brown hair, calling her by
the familiar name "Puss," while his face lighted with the old genial
smile for the first time since his illness. Each scanned the other's
face, striving to gauge the other's feelings, but each read only that
the old relations were re-established between them, and each was
satisfied.
Within a day or so of her return Kate despatched a messenger to Walcott
with the ring, accompanied by a brief note to the effect that everything
between them was at an end, but that it was useless for him to seek an
explanation, as she would give none whatever.
He at once took the note to his senior partner.
"I understood, Mr. Underwood, that everything was amicably adjusted
between us; I did not suppose that you had carried your suspicions
against me to any such length as this!"
Mr. Underwood read the note. "I know nothing whatever regarding my
daughter's reasons for her decision, and have had nothing whatever to do
with it. I knew that she had formed that decision at the last moment
before the wedding ceremony was to be performed, before she was even
aware of its postponement. She seemed to think she had sufficient
reasons, but what those reasons were I have never asked and do not
know."