‘Well, I’ll think it over. Good-night,’ said Beattie, abruptly holding out his hand. ‘By the way,’ he added, turning back as he reached the door, ‘you had better give me a call to-morrow morning, before I go down to the office, for there’s no time to lose. I will expect you at half-past eight. Something may have occurred to me in the meantime.’ It happened that that very evening Alec Lindsay called at his uncle’s, and as soon as the old man was aware that his nephew was in the house, he sent for him. ‘Alec,’ he said, ‘sit down. I have something to say to you.’ Alec obeyed, wondering what was coming. ‘I am decidedly of opinion,’ said Mr. Lindsay, in his old pragmatical way, ‘that it is not a good thing for a young man to be made suddenly rich. If he has enough to give him a start in life, that is all he needs. Wealth is often the occasion of a young man’s ruin. Therefore I have not made you my heir.’ ‘I hope you never thought I was expecting anything of the kind,’ said Alec quickly. ‘No. So you won’t be disappointed. I have not forgotten you in my will. You will have a competency. I have not forgotten any of my relations who had natural claims on me. But I have thought it right to leave the bulk of my property to the Kirk. The will is not drawn up yet. I had a man here to-day from your office, taking down the heads of what I want done. I must say I think one of the partners might have come.’ ‘They are very much engaged.’ ‘So this Mr. Beattie said. But I don’t want to have a clerk that I don’t know anything about attending to such an important matter. I should like you to see to it yourself. You do that sort of work in the office, don’t you?’ ‘Yes--but---- The fact is, uncle, I had rather not meddle with it, especially if my name is to be in the will.’ ‘Tuts, man, what does that signify?’ ‘Not much in reality, but----’ ‘You can tell one of the partners that it is my wish.’ ‘That would be a very awkward thing for me to do.’ ‘You’re very particular. It’s not such a great favour to ask of you. Will you do it if I write to the firm, and say I prefer that you should draw up the will?’ ‘Yes, uncle. I am very willing to oblige you; but if you are really anxious that I should do it, you had better write to the firm about it.’ ‘Then I will write a note now, and have it posted to-night, so that they may get it in the morning. That’s all I wanted to say to you. Just ask your aunt Jean to come here for a minute, when you go down.’ Alec found Miss Lindsay sitting with Laura in the library, and delivered his message. ‘What secrets have you and my uncle been discussing?’ asked the girl, as soon as the elder lady had left the room. (Laura had dropped into the way of calling Mr. Lindsay ‘uncle,’ though no relationship existed between them.) ‘None that I know of,’ answered Alec.