"My dear," said Dimbal, taking the girl's hand in his own, "let me make myself quite clear. I am here to impress upon you the terms of your father's will, which, as you know, has been in my possession since you were a baby, and to hand to you a sealed letter which he left for you. Until this is done, I cannot eat my meal in comfort." "A sealed letter?" queried Olive, leading the way into the drawing-room; "why was it not given to me before?" "Because your father's instructions were that you were not to have possession of this letter until after the arrival of Mr. Carson in England. Well, Mr. Carson has arrived. He was in my office yesterday; so, you see, I have lost no time." Olive sat down and took off her sun-bonnet. She looked put out. "I know that Mr. Carson is in England," she said; "I got a letter from him three or four days ago, in which he says he is coming down here at the end of the week." "Oh, well, I hope you are pleased," said Dimbal, looking dubiously at her. The kind-hearted little lawyer feared, from her expression that she was not. "No, Mr. Dimbal," replied the girl, decidedly. "I cannot pretend that I am. You must remember I have never seen the man. Indeed, I do not want to see him, and I am very sure I do not want to marry him." "But you must marry him, Olive." "I don't see that I must marry anybody I don't like. I am sure I shall hate him!" "My dear, you really must not talk like that. Remember you lose a large sum of money if you do not fulfil the conditions of the will." "I would rather lose anything than marry him," said Olive, recklessly. "I don't love the man; why, I have never seen him; how can you--how could papa expect me to marry him? He may be horrid--indeed, I am sure he is horrid." "Mr. Carson is a very charming and handsome young man," was Dimbal's reply, as he opened his bag. "You will find that he is everything your heart can desire." "My heart does not desire him at all. I object to being married without being consulted." "But Olive--dear child, remember, you loved your father!" "Yes"--the girl's face grew very tender, "my father was the dearest and best of men. I loved him very dearly--better than any one else in the world. You know I love his memory still." "Then you will surely obey his last expressed wish?" said Dimbal, persuasively. "In that way alone can you show your love and affection for him." "Mr. Bellairs's heart was set upon your marrying the son of his oldest and best friend." "Where is this letter, Mr. Dimbal?" asked Olive, irrelevantly. "All in good time, my dear. Let me first explain the will to you." "Do you wish Miss Slarge to be present?" said Olive, as the lawyer spread out the formidable parchment. "Oh, that is not necessary. I suppose she is busy?" Olive shrugged her pretty shoulders. "She is hunting, I believe, through Layard's Nineveh in search of Nimrod," she answered. "Lucky Aunt Rubina, she hasn't got to marry a man she doesn't care two pins about."