Part 5 (1/2)
”You're a miserly coward,” she declared. ”I'm not robbing you; you will have an abundance for your needs. Why do you quarrel with Dame Fortune?
Don't you realize you can pay your rent now and eat three square meals a day, and not have to work and slave for them? You can smoke a good cigar after your dinner, instead of that eternal pipe, and go to a picture show whenever the mood strikes you. Why, man, you're independent for the first time in your life, and the finances are as sure as shooting for a good seven years to come.”
He glanced uneasily at Alora.
”Owing to my dead wife's generosity,” he muttered.
Janet laughed.
”Of course,” said she; ”and, if you play your cards skillfuly, when Alora comes of age she will provide for you an income for the rest of your life. You're in luck. And why? Just because you are Jason Jones and long ago married Antoinette Seaver and her millions and are now reaping your reward! So, for decency's sake, don't grumble about writing me that check.”
All this was frankly said in the presence of Alora Jones, the heiress, of whose person and fortune, her father, Jason Jones, was now sole guardian. It was not strange that the man seemed annoyed and ill at ease. His scowl grew darker and his eyes glinted in an ugly way as he replied, after a brief pause:
”You seem to have forgotten Alora's requirements and my duty to her.”
”Pooh, a child! But we've allowed liberally for her keep, I'm sure. She can't keep servants and three dressmakers, it's true, but a simple life is best for her. She'll grow up a more sensible and competent woman by waiting on herself and living; as most girls do. At her age I didn't have shoes or stockings. Alora has been spoiled, and a bit of worldly experience will do her good.”
”She's going to be very rich, when she comes into her fortune,” said Alora's father, ”and then----”
”And then she can do as she likes with her money. Just now her income is too big for her needs, and the best thing you can do for her is to teach her economy--a virtue you seem to possess, whether by nature or training, in a high degree. But I didn't come here to argue. Give me that check.”
He walked over to his little desk, sat down and drew a check book from his pocket.
Alora, although she had listened intently to the astonis.h.i.+ng conversation, did not quite comprehend what it meant. Janet's harsh statement bewildered her as much as did her father's subject subservience to the woman. All she realized was that Janet Orme, her dead mother's nurse, wanted money--Alora's money--and her father was reluctant to give it to her but dared not refuse. Money was an abstract quant.i.ty to the eleven year old child; she had never handled it personally and knew nothing of its value. If her father owed Janet some of her money, perhaps it was for wages, or services rendered her mother, and Alora was annoyed that he haggled about it, even though the woman evidently demanded more than was just. There was plenty of money, she believed, and it was undignified to argue with a servant.
Jason Jones wrote the check and, rising, handed it to Janet.
”There,” said he, ”that squares our account. It is what I agreed to give you, but I did not think you would demand it so soon. To pay it just now leaves me in an embarra.s.sing position.”
”I don't believe it,” she rejoined. ”You're cutting coupons every month or so, and you may thank your stars I don't demand a statement of your income. But I know you, Jason Jones, and you can't hoodwink me, try as you may. You hid yourself in this hole and thought I wouldn't know where to find you, but you'll soon learn that you can't escape my eagle eye. So take your medicine like a man, and thank your lucky stars that you're no longer a struggling, starving, unrecognized artist. Good-bye until I call again.”
”You're not to call again!” he objected.
”Well, we'll see. Just for the present I'm in no mood to quarrel with you, and you'd better not quarrel with _me,_ Jason Jones. Good-bye.”
She tucked the check into her purse and ambled out of the room after a supercilious nod to Alora, who failed to return the salutation. Jason Jones stood in his place, still frowning, until Janet's high-heeled shoes had clattered down the two flights of stairs. Alora went to the window and looking down saw that a handsome automobile stood before the house, with a chauffeur and footman in livery. Janet entered this automobile and was driven away.
Alora turned to look at her father. He was filing his pipe and scowling more darkly than ever.
CHAPTER VI FLITTING
Once more they moved suddenly, and the second flitting came about in this way:
Alora stood beside the easel one morning, watching her father work on his picture. Not that she was especially interested in him or the picture, but there was nothing else for her to do. She stood with her slim legs apart, her hands clasped behind her, staring rather vacantly, when he looked up and noted her presence.
”Well, what do you think of it?” he asked rather sharply.
”Of the picture?” said Lory.
”Of course.”