and Mr. Mool's pulse steadied itself again. By special arrangement with the lawyer, Ovid had been always kept in ignorance of his mother's affa

l nature) in a fringe across her forehead, balanced on either side by clusters of charming little curls. Her mourning for Robert was worthy of its Parisian origin; it showed to perfect ad

r. Mool? Have you bee

wn, and who was an enthusiast in botany. It now occurred to him - if he innocently provoked embarrassing results - that ferns might be turned to useful and harmless account as a

the table. "I want to be exactly acquainted with the duties I owe to Carmina. And, by the way

he inexhaustible sense of injury, aroused by that magnificent marriage, asserted its

lilee's face turned as hard as iron. "One hundred pounds," Mr. Mool continued, "to buy a mourning

to her son. "Any other legacy to Lady Northlake would have

e awful moment when the operator says "Let me look," and has his devilish instrument hidden in his hand. The "situation," to use the language of t

e wisely read the exact words of the Will, this time: "'And I give

only express itself in act

"'Free of legacy duty, t

le!" Ovid

is bequest."' He laid the Will on the table, and ventured to look up. At the same time, Ovid turned to hi

knew what the preservation of their tran

uman face. They might have read, in her eyes and on her lips, a warning hardly less fearful than the unearthly writing on the wall, which told the Easte

n. All those formidable qualities in her nature, which a gentler and wiser training than hers had been might have held in check - by development of preservative influences that lay inert - were now

oo hot for you

question annoyed her at that moment.

enhair from my own little hot-house?" He smiled persuasively. The ferns were already justifying his confidence in their peace-making virtues, turned discreetly to account. Those terrible eyes rested on him mercifully. Not even a covert allusion to his silence in the

n handed back the Will to Mr. Mool. Before Ovid could ask for it, she was ready with a plausible explanation. "When your uncle became a husband and a father," she said, "th

d to that high-minded order of men, who are slow to suspect, and

it," he said, "without

did not blush.

. Mr. Mool looked at Ovid. "The

me as he has remembere

emembrance to my nephew. His father has already provided for him; and, with his rare abilities, he will make a second fortune by the exercise of his profession.' Mos

think, pass over that," she suggested, "and get to the part of it which r

rupted her. "That tiresome creature!" she said

of the conservatory. Mrs. Gallilee, as i

Minerva, my governess - growls just in that way whenever he sees her. I dare s

rs once more. He gathered a leaf, and returned to his place in a

galis. What a world of beauty in this bipinnate frond! On

Mr. Mool. No growl, or approach to a growl, now escaped him. The manner in which he laid himself down at Mrs. Gallilee's feet

of the Will, and arrived at the claus

e, that the fortune left to Miss Carmina amounts, in round numb

stees," said

ool s

is a preliminary clause, in the event of your dea

thlake," said

ool s

dian, until she comes of age," he resu

nly Mrs. Gallilee, but Ovid also, no

at interval, with her

ve of her choice?" Mrs

nd jumped up to be patted. Ovid was too pre-occupied to notice this modest advance. The dog's eyes and e

red, "you are instructed by the testator to assert your reasons in the presence of - well, I m

allilee remarked. "And what, Mr. Mool,

estion absolutely. If the decision confirms your view, and if

way?" Mrs. G

mes of age, ma'am. Then,

rits the

if her marriage is disapproved b

becomes of

nvested by the Trustees, and will be divided

e leaves no

the last clause. I will only say now,

o her son. "When I am dead and gone," she

vid repeated, wondering wh

ch God forbid!- can't you foresee what will happen?" his mother inqu

enough to check any further outpouring of such family feeling as this. Nothing w

rother's well-known liberality of feeling in a very interesting light. They relate to the provision made for his daughter, w

Mrs. Gallilee, with

iage to herself, whene

- in such a climate as this

s, the Trustees are authorized to plac

ch! too

rt Graywell had thought of his sister's interests, in making this e

her pocket money are inclu

as no limits," he said, "where his daughter is concerned. Miss Ca

Isn't it touching?" she said. "Dear Carmina! my own pe

ittle charities, my Trustees are hereby authorized, at their own discretion, to increase the amount, within the limit of another five hundred pounds annually.' It sounds

upted her once more. He made a sudden rush into the conservatory, barking with all his migh

th the dog ahead of him, tearing down t

of doing this, he had advanced at once to the second door, he would have seen a lady hastening into the house; and, though her back vi

, and saw Carmina at the

ed instantly: he kissed his hand to her. She returned the salute (so familiar to her in Italy) with her gentle smile, and looked back into the room. Teresa showed herself at the window. Always following her impulses without troubling herself to

back to th

ening?" Mr. M

t could have upset that heavy flower-pot." He looked roun

some allowance made to her by her father. Having answered in these

give you a brief abstract. You know, perhaps, that Miss Carmina is a Catholic? Very natural - her poor mother

s convictions began and ended with

fully. I reminded her that her brother had no near relations living, but Lady Nort

sed, "what is there to ag

be wordy - paid, in fact, at so much a folio, for so many words!- and we like to clear the ground first. Your late uncle ends his Will, by providing for

him again. "Do I remember the amount of the fortune correct

es

oney, if Carmina never marries,

the whole of the money goes to M