At this moment a clerk entered. "There is a young lady who desires to see you, Mr. Codicil." "Did she give her name?" "Miss Beaufort." "Send her in at once. She could not have come at a more fitting time. My young friend, go into the little room adjoining, and wait till I summon you." Rose Beaufort entered the lawyer's presence with a grave expression on her face. "I hope, Mr. Codicil, you will excuse my troubling you with a visit." "So far from troubling me, I am very glad to see you. What can I do for you?" "I am in trouble, and wish your advice." "Proceed." Rose unfolded her story, and concluded by asking Mr. Codicil if he would exert his influence toward obtaining her some pupils in music. The lawyer's eyes twinkled behind his spectacles. "I hardly know what to say to that request," he answered. "I did not suppose you would be prejudiced against me by Mrs. Tilton's false and groundless accusations," said Rose, with a troubled air. "I am not. That is not the point. I am only questioning the expediency of your teaching at all." "But I know of no better way of earning a livelihood." "Still, it is not customary for wealthy young ladies to take pupils." "I don't understand you, Mr. Codicil," said Rose, bewildered. "Then I will no longer keep you in suspense. Your poor cousin, Philip, is dead, and you inherit your grandfather's fortune--that is, you, your sister, and brother." "When did poor Philip die?" asked Rose, unaffectedly shocked. "It must have been very sudden." "On the contrary, he died last year." "Last year! How happens it, then, that we did not know of it before?" "Because there has been a wicked scheme to defraud you of the inheritance. Ben, come here." Ben entered, and the story was soon told. Of course it need not be repeated. "Now, Miss Beaufort, if you insist on taking pupils, I will do what I can to procure you some," said the lawyer. "If I take them it will be without compensation," answered Rose, smiling. "Can you tell me how soon we may expect to come into our property? I ask, because we are near the end of our money." "It will take perhaps two months to obtain legal proof of Philip's death, but that will not inconvenience you. I will advance you whatever money you require in the meantime." "You are very kind. If you could let me have twenty dollars----" "You are very modest," said the lawyer, smiling. "Suppose we say two hundred?" "Two hundred!" ejaculated Rose. "I think you will be able to find a use for it," said the lawyer. "Remember, though I don't want to encourage you in extravagance, that is less than two weeks' income." There was great joy in the Beaufort household when Rose carried home the great news, though it was mingled with sorrow for the untimely fate of poor Philip. CHAPTER XXXVII. BEN MEETS HIS COUSIN.