"What has Uncle John been doing ?" "Deceiving us, my dear." "Nonsense," said Uncle John, lighting his old briar pipe, "you've been deceiving yourselves." "Didn't you convey the impression that you were poor ?" demanded the Major, sternly.
"No." "Didn't you let Patsy take away your thirty-two dollars and forty-two cents, thinking it was all you had ?" "Yes." "Aren't you worth millions and millions of dollars--so many that you can't count them yourself ?" "Perhaps." "Then, sir," concluded the Major, mopping the perspiration from his forehead and sitting down limply in his chair, "what do you mean by it ?" Patsy stood pale and trembling, her round eyes fixed upon her uncle's composed face.
"Uncle John!" she faltered.
"Yes, my dear." "Is it all true?
Are you so very rich ?" "Yes, my dear." "And it's you that gave me this house, and--and everything else--and got the Major his fine job, and me discharged, and--and--" "Of course, Patsy.

Why not ?" "Oh, Uncle John!" She threw herself into his arms, sobbing happily as he clasped her little form to his bosom.

And the Major coughed and blew his nose, and muttered unintelligible words into his handkerchief.

Then Patsy sprang up and rushed upon her father, crying; "Oh, Daddy! Aren't you glad it's Uncle John ?" "I have still to hear his explanation," said the Major.
Uncle John beamed upon them.

Perhaps he had never been so happy before in all his life.
"I'm willing to explain," he said, lighting his pipe again and settling himself in his chair.