“My poor dear sister! This is a bad business! a severe reverse! a very severe reverse!” “He has hit on his catch-word,” thought Caroline, and Jock’s arm still round her gave a little pressure, as if the thought had occurred to him. The moment of amusement gave a cheerfulness to her voice as she said-- “We have been doing sad injustice all this time; that is the worst of it. For the rest, we shall be no worse off than we were before.” “It will be in Allen’s power to make up to you a good deal. That is a fortunate arrangement, but I am afraid it cannot take place till the girl is of age.” “You are all in such haste,” said Bobus. “It would take a good deal to make me accept such an informal scrap as this. No doubt one could drive a coach and horses through it.” “That would not lessen the injustice,” said his mother. “Could there not be a compromise?” said Allen. “That is nonsense,” said his uncle. “Either _this_ will stand, or _that_, and I am afraid this is the later. April 18th. Was that the time of that absurd practical joke of yours?” “Too true,” said Allen. “You recollect the old brute said I should remember it.” “Witnesses--? There’s Gomez, the servant who was drowned on his way out after his dismissal--Elizabeth Brook--is it--servant.--Who is to find her out?” “Richards may know.” “It is not our business to hunt up the witnesses. That’s the lookout of the other party,” said Bobus impatiently. “You don’t suppose I mean to contest it?” said his mother. “It is bad enough to go on as we have been doing these eight years. I only want to know what is right and truth, and if this be a real will.” “Where did it come from?” asked the Colonel, coming to the critical question. “Did you say you found it yourself, Caroline?” “Yes.” “Where?” “In the old bureau.” “What! the one that stood in his study? You don’t say so! I saw Wakefield turn the whole thing out, and look for any secret drawer before I would take any steps; I could have sworn that not the thickness of that sheet of paper escaped us. I should like, if only out of curiosity, to see where it was.” “Just as I said, mother,” said Bobus; “there’s no use in trying to blink it to any one who knows the circumstances.” “You do not insinuate that there was any foul play!” said his uncle hotly. “I don’t know what else it can be called,” said Caroline, faintly; “but please, Robert, and all the rest, don’t expose her. Poor Janet found the thing in the back of the bedside table-drawer, fancied it a mere rough draft, and childlike, put it out of sight in the bureau, where I lighted on it in looking for something else. Surely there is no need to mention her?” “Not if you do not contest the will,” replied the Colonel, who looked thunderstruck; “but if you did, it must all come out to exonerate us, the executors, from shameful carelessness. Well, we shall see what Wakefield says! A severe reverse! a very severe reverse!”