The old man seemed now to be a little fretful, and said something more about his sorrow at their having been sent into that room. "We are so crowded," he said, "that we hardly know how to stir ourselves." Miss Mackenzie said it did not signify in the least. Mr Ball said nothing, but seated himself with his chin again resting on his umbrella. "I was so sorry to see in the papers an account of your brother's death," said Mr Slow. "Yes, Mr Slow; he has gone, and left a wife and very large family." "I hope they are provided for, Miss Mackenzie." "No, indeed; they are not provided for at all. My brother had not been fortunate in business." "And yet he went into it with a large capital,--with a large capital in such a business as that." John Ball, with his chin on the umbrella, said nothing. He said nothing, but he winced as he thought whence the capital had come. And he thought, too, of those much-meaning words: "Jonathan Ball to John Ball, junior--Deed of gift." "He had been unfortunate," said Miss Mackenzie, in an apologetic tone. "And what will you do about your loan?" said Mr Slow, looking over to John Ball when he asked the question, as though inquiring whether all Miss Mackenzie's affairs were to be talked over openly in the presence of that gentleman. "That was a gift," said Miss Mackenzie. "A deed of gift," thought John Ball to himself. "A deed of gift!" "Oh, indeed! Then there's an end of that, I suppose," said Mr Slow. "Exactly so. I have been explaining to my cousin all about it. I hope the firm will be able to pay my sister-in-law the interest on it, but that does not seem sure." "I am afraid I cannot help you there, Miss Mackenzie." "Of course not. I was not thinking of it. But what I've come about is this." Then she told Mr Slow the whole of her project with reference to her fortune; how, on his death-bed, she had promised to give half of all that she had to her brother's wife and family, and how she had come there to him, with her cousin, in order that he might put her in the way of keeping her promise. Mr Slow sat in silence and patiently heard her to the end. She, finding herself thus encouraged to speak, expatiated on the solemnity of her promise, and declared that she could not be comfortable till she had done all that she had undertaken to perform. "And I shall have quite enough for myself afterwards, Mr Slow, quite enough." Mr Slow did not say a word till she had done, and even then he seemed to delay his speech. John Ball never raised his face from his umbrella, but sat looking at the lawyer, whom he still suspected of roguery. And if the lawyer were a rogue, what then about his cousin? It must not be supposed that he suspected her; but what would come of her, if the fortune she held were, in truth, not her own? "I have told my cousin all about it," continued Margaret, "and I believe that he thinks I am doing right. At any rate, I would do nothing without his knowing it."