Hermon Worcester passed on serenely, in the Faith, and the prominence and usefulness thereof; though the last prayer that he heard on earth came from the lips of the affectionate heretic in whose arms he died. Bayard had been so long out of the world and the ways of it, that it did not occur to him, till he received the summons of the family lawyer, that he would be required to be present at the reading of his uncle’s will. “As the nearest of kin, my dear sir,” suggested the attorney, “the occasion will immediately concern you, doubtless.” Bayard bowed, in silence. He did not think it necessary to explain to the attorney that he had been, for a long time, aware of the fact of his disinheritance. “Possibly Uncle may have left me his library,” he thought, “or the furniture of my old room.” He had, indeed, received the library. The rest of Hermon Worcester’s fortune, barring the usual souvenirs to relatives, had been divided between Mr. Worcester’s favorite home missionary associations and Cesarea Seminary, of which he had been, for thirty years, trustee. The house on Beacon Street, with its contents, went unreservedly, “and affectionately,” the testator had expressed it, to his nephew, Emanuel Bayard. “I think,” observed the lawyer at the first decent opportunity, “that Mr. Worcester intended, or--hoped that you might make your plans of life in accordance with such circumstances as would enable you to keep, and to keep up, the homestead.” “But of course,” added the attorney, shrewdly reading Bayard’s silent face, “that might be--as you say--impossible.” “I said nothing,” replied Bayard in a low voice. “The place is yours, without conditions,” pursued the lawyer, with polite indifference. “It can be sold, or converted into income--rented, if you please, if ever unfortunately necessary. It would seem a pity. It would bring so little. But still, it could, of course, be done.” “What do you call a little?” asked Bayard. “Oh, enough for a small fresh-water Professor or retail grocer to get along on, if he knew how,” replied the Back Bay lawyer carelessly. He mentioned the figures. The house was old, and in need of repair; the furniture out of date, and worn. The probable values were not large, as the attorney said. To the pastor from Angel Alley their possession seemed to represent the shock of nature involved in a miracle. XXV. Helen was to sail for Boston the following Saturday. It lacked three days of that date. It being out of the question to reach her, now, by letter, Bayard cabled to her:-- Will meet you arrival steamer. Future clear before me. I await you. E. B. To this impulsive message he found himself expecting a reply. The wan missionary had burst into a boyish and eager lover. Oh, that conscientious, cruel past! He dashed it from him. He plunged into the freedom of his heart. In honor--in his delicate honor--he could win her, now.