CHAPTER XVIII. PATRICIA SPEAKS FRANKLY. KAPITEL XVIII. PATRICIA SPRICHT GANZ OFFEN. CAPÍTULO XVIII. PATRICIA HABLA CON FRANQUEZA. CHAPITRE XVIII. PATRICIA PARLE FRANCHEMENT. 第18章.パトリシア、率直に語る CAPÍTULO XVIII. PATRICIA FALA FRANCAMENTE. 第十八章。帕特里夏坦白地說。

It was Lawyer Watson's suggestion that she was being unjust to Beth and Louise, in encouraging them to hope they might inherit Elmhurst, that finally decided Aunt Jane to end all misunderstandings and inform her nieces of the fact that she had made a final disposition of her property. So one morning she sent word asking them all into her room, and when the nieces appeared they found Uncle John and the lawyer already in their aunt's presence. There was an air of impressive formality pervading the room, although Miss Merrick's brother, at least, was as ignorant as her nieces of the reason why they had been summoned. Patsy came in last, hobbling actively on her crutches, although the leg was now nearly recovered, and seated herself somewhat in the rear of the apartment.

Aunt Jane looked into one expectant face after another with curious interest, and then broke the silence by saying, gravely, but in more gentle tones than she was accustomed to use:

"I believe, young ladies, that you have understood from the first my strongest reason for inviting you to visit Elmhurst this summer. I am old, and must soon pass away, and instead of leaving you and your parents, who would be my legitimate heirs, to squabble over my property when I am gone, I decided to excute a will bequeathing my estate to some one who would take proper care of it and maintain it in a creditable manner. I had no personal acquaintance with any of you, but judged that one out of the three might serve my purpose, and therefore invited you all here." By this time the hearts of Louise and Beth were fluttering with excitement, and even Patsy looked interested. Uncle John sat a little apart, watching them with an amused smile upon his face, and the lawyer sat silent with his eyes fixed upon a pattern in the rug.

"In arriving at a decision, which I may say I have succeeded in doing," continued Aunt Jane, calmly, "I do not claim to have acted with either wisdom or discernment. I have simply followed my own whim, as I have the right to do, and selected the niece I prefer to become my heiress. You cannot accuse of injustice, because none of you had a right to expect anything of me; but I will say this, that I am well pleased with all three of you, and now wish that I had taken pains to form your acquaintance earlier in life. You might have cheered my old age and rendered it less lonely and dull." "Well said, Jane," remarked Uncle John, nodding his head approvingly. She did not notice the interruption, but presently continued:

"Some days ago I asked my lawyer, Mr. Watson, to draw up my will. It was at once prepared and signed, and now stands as my last will and testament. I have given to you, Louise, the sum of five thousand dollars." Louise laughed nervously, and threw out her hands with an indifferent gesture. Louise rit nerveusement et jette ses mains dans un geste indifférent.

"Many thanks, Aunt," she said, lightly. "To you, Beth," continued Miss Merrick, "I have given the same sum." Beth's heart sank, and tears forced themselves into her eyes in spite of her efforts to restrain them. Le cœur de Beth se serra, et des larmes se glissèrent dans ses yeux malgré ses efforts pour les retenir. She said nothing.

Aunt Jane turned to her brother.

"I have also provided for you, John, in the sum of five thousand dollars." "Me!" he exclaimed, astounded. "Why, suguration, Jane, I don't—" "Mais, suguration, Jane, je ne..." "Silence!" she cried, sternly. "I expect neither thanks nor protests. If you take care of the money, John, it will last you as long as you live." Uncle John laughed. He doubled up in his chair and rocked back and forth, shaking his little round body as if he had met with the most amusing thing that had ever happened in his life. Il s'est redressé sur sa chaise et s'est balancé d'avant en arrière, secouant son petit corps rond comme s'il avait rencontré la chose la plus amusante qui lui soit arrivée dans sa vie. Aunt Jane stared at him, while Louise and Beth looked their astonishment, but Patsy's clear laughter rang above Uncle John's gasping chuckles. Tante Jane le dévisage, Louise et Beth regardent leur étonnement, mais le rire clair de Patsy résonne au-dessus des gloussements haletants de l'oncle John. "I hope, dear Uncle," said she, mischievously, "that when poor Aunt Jane is gone you'll be able to buy a new necktie." "J'espère, cher oncle, dit-elle avec malice, que lorsque la pauvre tante Jane sera partie, vous pourrez acheter une nouvelle cravate. He looked at her whimsically, and wiped the tears from his eyes. Il l'a regardée d'un air narquois et a essuyé les larmes de ses yeux.

"Thank you, Jane," said the little man to his sister. "It's a lot of money, and I'll be proud to own it." "C'est beaucoup d'argent et je serai fier de le posséder. "Why did you laugh." demanded Aunt Jane.

"I just happened to think that our old Dad once said I'd never be worth a dollar in all my life. "Je me suis souvenu que notre vieux père avait dit un jour que je ne vaudrais jamais un dollar de toute ma vie. What would he say now, Jane, if he knew I stood good to have five thousand—if I can manage to outlive you?" Que dirait-il maintenant, Jane, s'il savait que j'ai de bonnes chances d'avoir cinq mille dollars - si je parviens à vous survivre ?" She turned from him with an expression of scorn.

"In addition to these bequests," said she, "I have left five thousand to the boy and twenty thousand to Mr. Watson. The remainder of the property will go to Patricia." For a moment the room was intensely still. Then Patricia said, with quiet determination:

"You may as well make another will, Aunt. "Vous pouvez tout aussi bien faire un autre testament, ma tante. I'll not touch a penny of your money." "Why not?" asked the woman, almost fiercely.

"You have been kind to me, and you mean well," said Patricia. "Vous avez été gentille avec moi et vous avez de bonnes intentions", dit Patricia. "I would rather not tell you my reasons." "Je préfère ne pas vous dire mes raisons". "I demand to know them!" "Ah, aunt; can't you understand, without my speaking?" "No," said the other; but a flush crossed her pale cheek, nevertheless. "Non", répondit l'autre, mais une rougeur traversa néanmoins sa joue pâle. Patsy arose and stumped to a position directly in front of Jane Merrick, where she rested on her crutches. Patsy se leva et se mit en position juste devant Jane Merrick, où elle s'appuya sur ses béquilles. Her eyes were bright and full of indignation, and her plain little face was so white that every freckle showed distinctly.

"There was a time, years ago," she began in a low voice, "when you were very rich and your sister Violet, my mother, was very poor. Her health was bad, and she had me to care for, while my father was very ill with a fever. Sa santé était mauvaise et elle devait s'occuper de moi, tandis que mon père était très malade et avait de la fièvre. She was proud, too, and for herself she would never have begged a penny of anyone; but for my sake she asked her rich sister to loan her a little money to tide her over her period of want. Elle était fière, elle aussi, et pour elle-même, elle n'aurait jamais demandé un centime à qui que ce soit ; mais pour moi, elle a demandé à sa riche sœur de lui prêter un peu d'argent pour l'aider à traverser cette période de disette. What did you do, Jane Merrick, you who lived in a beautiful mansion, and had more money than you could use? You insulted her, telling her she belonged to a family of beggars, and that none of them could wheedle your money away from you!" "It was true," retorted the elder woman, stubbornly. "They were after me like a drove of wolves—every Merrick of them all—and they would have ruined me if I had let them bleed me as they wished." "Ils étaient après moi comme une meute de loups - tous les Merrick - et ils m'auraient ruiné si je les avais laissés me saigner comme ils le voulaient. "So far as my mother is concerned, that's a lie," said Patsy, quietly. "She never appealed to you but that once, but worked as bravely as she could to earn money in her own poor way. "Elle n'a fait appel à vous qu'une seule fois, mais elle a travaillé aussi courageusement que possible pour gagner de l'argent à sa pauvre manière. The result was that she died, and I was left to the care of strangers until my father was well enough to support me." Elle est morte et j'ai été confié à des étrangers jusqu'à ce que mon père soit en mesure de subvenir à mes besoins". She paused, and again the room seemed unnaturally still.

"I'm sorry, girl," said Aunt Jane, at last, in trembling tones. "I was wrong. I see it now, and I am sorry I refused Violet." "Then I forgive you!" said Patsy, impulsively. "I forgive you all, Aunt Jane; for through your own selfishness you cut yourself off from all your family—from all who might have loved you—and you have lived all these years a solitary and loveless life. "Je te pardonne tout, tante Jane, car par ton propre égoïsme, tu t'es coupée de toute ta famille, de tous ceux qui auraient pu t'aimer, et tu as vécu toutes ces années une vie solitaire et sans amour. There'll be no grudge of mine to follow you to the grave, Aunt Jane. Aucune rancune ne vous suivra dans la tombe, tante Jane. But," her voice hardening, "I'll never touch a penny of the money that was denied my poor dead mother. Thank God the old Dad and I are independent, and can earn our own living." Dieu merci, le vieux papa et moi sommes indépendants et pouvons gagner notre vie". Uncle John came to where Patsy stood and put both arms around her, pressing her—crutches and all—close to his breast. L'oncle John s'approcha de Patsy et l'entoura de ses deux bras, la pressant - béquilles et tout - contre sa poitrine. Then he released her, and without a word stalked from the room. Puis il la relâcha et, sans un mot, sortit de la pièce.

"Leave me, now," said Aunt Jane, in a husky voice. "Laissez-moi maintenant, dit tante Jane d'une voix rauque. "I want time to think." Patricia hobbled forward, placed one hand caressingly upon the gray head, and then bent and kissed Aunt Jane's withered cheek. Patricia s'avança en clopinant, posa une main caressante sur la tête grise, puis se pencha pour embrasser la joue flétrie de tante Jane. "That's right," she whispered. "Think it over, dear. "Réfléchis, ma chérie. It's all past and done, now, and I'm sorry I had to hurt you. C'est du passé et c'est fini, maintenant, et je suis désolé d'avoir dû te blesser. But—not a penny, aunt—remember, not a penny will I take!" Then she left the room, followed by Louise and Beth, both of whom were glad to be alone that they might conquer their bitter disappointment.

Louise, however, managed to accept the matter philosophically, as the following extract from her letter to her mother will prove: Louise a cependant réussi à accepter la chose avec philosophie, comme le prouve l'extrait suivant de la lettre qu'elle a adressée à sa mère :

"After all, it isn't so bad as it might be, mater, dear," she wrote. "I'll get five thousand, at the very worst, and that will help us on our way considerably. "J'obtiendrai cinq mille, au pire, et cela nous aidera considérablement à avancer. But I am quite sure that Patsy means just what she says, and that she will yet induce Aunt Jane to alter her will. In that case I believe the estate will either be divided between Beth and me, or I will get it all. Anyway, I shall stay here and play my best cards until the game is finished."