“Janet!”--and the colour flushed into her mother’s face--“I don’t quite know what you mean; but it is time we came to an understanding.” “I think so,” returned Janet. “Then you know--” “I heard what papa said to you. I kept the white slate till you thought of it,” said Janet, in a tone that sounded soft from her. “And why did you never say so, my dear?” “I can hardly tell. I was shy at first; and then reserve grows on a person; but I never ceased from thinking about it through all these years. Mother, you do not think there is any chance of the boys taking it up as my father wished?” “Certainly not Allen,” said Caroline with a sigh. “And as to Bobus, he would have full capacity; but a great change must come over him, poor fellow, before he would fulfil your father’s conditions.” “He has no notion of the drudgery of the medical profession,” said Janet; “he means to read law, get up social and sanitary questions, and go into parliament.” “I know,” said her mother, “I have always lived in hopes that sanitary theories would give him his father’s heart for the sufferers, and that search into the secrets of nature would lead him higher; but as long as he does not turn that way of himself it would be contrary to your father’s charge to hold this discovery out to him as an inducement.” “And Jock?” said Janet, smiling. “You don’t expect it of the born soldier--nor of Armine?” “I am not sure about Armine, though he may not be strong enough to bear the application.” “Armine will walk through life like Allen,” scornfully said Janet; “besides he is but fourteen. Now, mother, why should not I be worthy?” “My dear Janet, it is not a question of worthiness; it is not a thing a woman could work out.” “I do not ask you to give it to me now, nor even to promise it to me,” said Janet, with a light in those dark wells, her eyes; “but only to let me have the hope, that when in three years’ time I am qualified, and have passed the examinations, if Bobus does not take it up, you will let me claim that best inheritance my father left, but which his sons do not heed.” “My child, you do not know what you ask. Remember, I know more about it than only what you picked up on that morning. It is a matter he could not have made sure of without a succession of experiments very hard even for him, and certainly quite impossible for any woman. The exceeding difficulty and danger of the proof was one reason of his guarding it so much, and desiring it should only be told to one good as well as clever--clever as well as good.” “Can you give me no hint of the kind of thing,” said Janet, wistfully. “That would be a betrayal of his trust.” Janet looked terribly disappointed. “Mother,” said she, “let me put it to you. Is it fair to shut up a discovery that might benefit so many people.”