“Let go, Philip,” cried the excited father. “She is my child, you shall have the diamonds and the stockings if you will release your hold.”
“I will not let go,” answered Philip. “She is my niece.”
“I will summon you if you do not,” shouted Hezekiah.
“I will give evidence against you if she is hurt,” exclaimed Philip. Then with an effort he lifted himself upon the wall, and sat there holding the child.
“Now, Hezekiah,” said he, “I will submit to a compromise. You descend, set the ladder at a less acute angle, fetch a second, and we will together carry Penelope down into your garden.”
VII.
When Penelope Letitia had been safely conveyed to the ground in the arms of her uncle and father, then the two men stood and drew a long breath.
“That wall—” said Hezekiah.
“Exactly, that wall—” said Philip.
“That wall shall not be raised any higher,” said Hezekiah.
“I shall never again look on that wall without a shudder.”
“Uncle,” said the child, “may I have my ball?”
“Here it is,” said he, and he stooped and kissed his niece.
Hezekiah was moved.
“Yes,” said Hezekiah, “I will have all the bricks removed.”
“All?”
“Yes, all.”
“Then,” said Philip, “there will be a double space for Penelope Lætitia to run about in.”
“I—I did not mean all the bricks.”
“You said all. Why not? Level the whole wall.”
Then Mrs. Heckmondwyke said in the pause that ensued, “I have a proposal to make. Let the valuables, diamonds and stockings be made over by both of you, father and uncle, to Penelope Lætitia. She will be the representative of the family, and she is the only one likely to wear the diamonds.”
“On one condition,” said Philip, “that when she marries, her husband shall take the name of Holroyd.”
“And Lee,” put in Hezekiah.
“It shall be a deed of gift,” said Philip. “Come along, brother, to the lawyer’s office. It shall be drawn out at once.”
“And you shall have the latch-key again.”
“I shall not require it when the wall is pulled down.”
