"I would show them the will and put them in the way of securing their fortune." "_I_ should like to see that will." "Would you?" "Yes, it would interest me." "You do not look very interested." "Do I not? Yet I am, I assure you." "Then you shall see it, or rather this newspaper copy of it which I happen to have in my pocket-book." "What, that little slip?" "It is not very large." "I thought a will was something ponderous." "Sometimes it is, but this is short and very much to the point; it was drawn up in haste." "Let me take it," said she. She took it and carried it over to the lamp. Suddenly she turned about and her face was very white. "What odd provision is this," she cried, "about the heir being required to live a year in the house where this woman died?" "Oh," said he, "that is nothing; any one who inherits this money would not mind such a condition as that. Mrs. Wakeham wanted the house fitted up, you see. It had been her birthplace." Hermione silently handed him back the slip. She looked so agitated that he was instantly struck by it. "Why are you affected by this?" he cried. "Hermione, Hermione, this is something to _you_!" She roused herself and looked calmly at him, shaking her head. "You are mistaken," she declared. "It is nothing to me." "To some one you know, then,--to your sister?" "How could it be anything to her, if not to me?" "True; I beg your pardon; but you seem to feel a personal disappointment." "You do not understand me very well," said she, and turned towards the door in welcome of her sister, who just then came in. She was followed by Doris with a tray on which were heaped masses of black and white cherries in bountiful profusion. "From our own trees," said Emma, as she handed him a plate. He made his acknowledgments, and leaned forward to take the cherries which Doris offered him. "Sir," whispered that woman, as she pushed into view a little note which she held in her hand under the tray, "just read this, and I won't disobey you again. It's something you ought to know. For the young ladies' sakes do read it, sir." He was very angry, and cast her a displeased look, but he took the note. Hermione was at the other end of the room, and Emma was leaning over her aunt, so the action was not seen; but he felt guilty of a discourtesy for all that, and ate his cherries with a disturbed mind. Doris, on the contrary, looked triumphant, and passed from one to the other with a very cheerful smile. When Frank arrived home he read that note. It was from Doris herself, and ran thus: