commented Mrs. Stapp . `` I was glad to hear that I was heir to so much money , '' said Mrs. March firmly . `` At first I felt as if it were awful of me to be glad when it came to me by my brother 's death . But I mourned for poor Charles forty years ago , and I ca n't sense that he has only just died . Not but what I 'd rather have seen him come home alive than have all the money in the world , but it has come about otherwise , and as the money is lawfully mine , I may as well feel pleased about it . '' `` And you 've bought the Carroll place , '' said Mrs. Stapp , with the freedom of a privileged friend . `` Whatever made you do it ? I 'm sure you are as cosy here as need be , and nobody but yourself . Is n't this house big enough for you ? '' `` No , it is n't . All my life I 've been hankering for a good , big , roomy house , and all my life I 've had to put up with little boxes of places , not big enough to turn round in . I 've been contented , and made the best of what I had , but now that I can afford it , I mean to have a house that will suit me . The Carroll house is just what I want , for all it is a little old-fashioned . I 've always had a notion of that house , although I never expected to own it any more than the moon . '' `` It 's a real handsome place , '' admitted Mrs. Stapp , `` but I expect it will need a lot of fixing up . Nobody has lived in it for six years . When are you going to move in ? '' `` In about three weeks , if all goes well . I 'm having it all painted and done over inside . The outside can wait until the spring . ''
`` It 's queer how things come about , '' said Mrs. XXXXX meditatively .
Carroll Charles Nobody Stapp death first freedom heir weeks years