There were rumors that he remained because
of other schemes concerning his new estate. Just what those schemes were
no one seemed to know. If John Kendrick knew he told no one, not even
Emily Howes.
But E. Holliday himself disclosed his plan and it was to Thankful Barnes
that he did so. He called at the High Cliff House one afternoon and
asked to see its proprietor. Thankful was a trifle flustered. It was the
first call which her wealthy neighbor had made upon her, and she could
not understand why he came at this late date.
"For mercy sakes, come into the livin'-room with me, Emily," she begged.
"I shan't know how to act in the face of all that money."
Emily was much amused. "I never knew you to be frightened of money
before, Auntie," she said. "I thought you were considering borrowing
some of this very--ahem--personage."
"Maybe I was, though I cal'late I should have took it out in
consideration; I never would have gone to him and asked. But now
the--what do you call it?--personage--come to me for somethin', the land
knows what."
"Perhaps HE wants to borrow."
"Humph! Perhaps he does. Well, then, he's fishin' in the wrong
puddle. Emily Howes, stop laughin' and makin' jokes and come into that
livin'-room same as I ask you to."
But this Emily firmly declined to do. "He's not my caller, Auntie," she
said. "He didn't even ask if I were in."
So Thankful went into the living-room alone to meet the personage. And
she closed all doors behind her.
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