“The doctor says two or three things--as they all do--that she’s quite well, not mad at all, though of course it has a strange appearance that she should have forgotten her child, and would go against her in a court of law. But he thinks it is quite natural, by all kinds of reasons,” said John hurriedly, perceiving, as so few speakers are clever enough to do, that he no longer had the ear of his audience. He gave Letitia a look half affronted, half anxious, and then began to walk up and down the room, awaiting her reply. “Five years old,” said Letitia, “a little puny thing with no stamina, and the mother out of the question, taking no interest----” “Poor little thing,” said John. “And after Mary--you are the guardian, I suppose.” “Letitia!” he cried. There was something in the tone with which she had said these words--something indescribable, hideous, which horrified him. He turned upon her with staring eyes. “Well,” she said calmly, “is there anything wonderful in that. I suppose you will be guardian as the next after her. He will be--in your hands----” “Where he will be as safe,” John cried coming up to her almost as if he would have seized and shaken her, “as if he were my own.” “I never doubted it,” Letitia said. What did she mean? her husband looking down upon her from where he stood could not accuse her of anything. The words had been simple enough. And she was now holding her foot to the fire, as if the only thing she cared for in the world was to get warm. She did not look at him. She yawned a little as if the conversation was getting tedious. “You see yourself,” she went on, “that there’s no use trying to unseat the boy because of his mother’s wild fancies. The thing you have to think of is how to do the best for him. And you’ll have to take this into consideration at once. I should say we’d better come here and let Greenpark. It will be best for the boy; and as I suppose you will have a great deal to do with the property it will be better for you. There is a long minority to look forward to, and of course there must be a good allowance for the child. It would be better for Mary that she should have the Dower-house. The boy can’t be any pleasure to her, feeling as she does, and it will be good for him to have children about him instead of being brought up like a little old man.” “You seem to have got it all cut and dry,” said John, astonished. “Yes. I’ve been thinking about it,” said Letitia. “You need not speak of it all, cut and dry as you call it, at once, but it’s best to have a plan in our heads. That’s what I advise. And as soon as the funeral is over the first thing to do is to get rid of Mary. I am very much frightened of mad people. I have always been so all my life.” “Well, perhaps it might be the best way. But there is Blotting to consult. Blotting has as much to say as I have. He’s executor too. And so is she for that matter.”