Your letter has made me very happy. I had no right to expect anything
from Colonel Randall's will, although he was always so good to me that
I thought of him as a father. But I was hurt, and it would be foolish
not to admit that I was disappointed, when I found that he had left me
nothing. So was mamma; it was not easy for us to be dependent upon
you. I don't mean to hurt you in saying that. Especially now!
Because, Rose, dear, you have made me see that my stepfather was right
when he left everything to you. He could trust you!
You have really been magnificent. Your gift--for that is what it
is--will make the world a different place for me. I had to go to bed
for two days after I got your letter. I was overcome!
Now I do hope you won't be too much surprised, dear, and I don't want
you to disapprove. I suppose you know that Mr. Flood sent over his
yacht, the Esperanza, so that it would be ready for Kiel. But perhaps
you don't know that he told Marshall to make use of it until he wanted
it himself. Well, he did; it was nice of him, wasn't it? So Marshall
brought it to Algiers, and the Whartons--and I--saw a good deal of him.
It is all over now, so I may as well confess that Marshall and I were
very unhappy for a time. We didn't have five thousand a year between
us! But when I got your letter, and the papers--and the note from the
bank--oh, Rosamund, you will never, never know how the world changed
for me. And we were married yesterday, at the American Consulate in
Lisbon, and I am your happy, happy, happy sister,