‘All right,’ he exclaimed. ‘Now, all you have to do is to put it back again. Here,’ he added, picking up an open newspaper which looked as if it had been brought there on purpose, ‘slip the will under this, and lay them both on the table. When Alec comes back he will remember that he left the will on the table; he will lift the newspaper and find it there; and uncle will never notice, if you attract his attention, that Alec did not bring it back into the room himself.’ Laura admired and rather wondered at these elaborate instructions for carrying out what she thought was a very simple ruse. But she had no opportunity of putting them in practice. As she ascended the last flight of stairs, Alec came bounding up, three steps at a time, and overtook her as she reached the landing. ‘Why, Laura, what have you got there?’ he asked in surprise, taking the will from her unresisting hand. The two stood looking at each other for a moment, without speaking. ‘What were you doing with this?’ asked Alec. Laura had made up her mind. She would not confess to Alec that she had been acting under Semple’s directions. It would have been equivalent to making that definite choice between the two which she had resolved not to make until it was known what share of his uncle’s property Alec was to have. ‘Oh! don’t tell my uncle,’ she said rapidly, speaking almost in a whisper. ‘I wanted to know what was in it.’ ‘You wanted to know whether my uncle was going to leave you anything?’ ‘Yes; and I pretended to him that you and the other clerk from your office wanted to see it. But I have not looked at it. I have not read a line of it! Indeed I have not!’ and Laura burst into tears. Alec did not speak. It did not seem a very serious matter, but he was pained to think that the girl he loved should have done such a thing. ‘Only promise me that you won’t speak of it!’ she cried, with clasped hands, her eyes swimming in tears. Alec reflected for a moment. He could not see that there was any duty cast upon him to mention Laura’s indiscretion to his uncle. Even if she had peeped into the will, no harm could have been done. He gave the required promise, and turned away, going into his uncle’s room, while Laura, unwilling to go downstairs and meet Semple, whom at this moment she positively hated, ran up to her own room. ‘What a fool I was to listen to him!’ she exclaimed aloud, when she had shut the door. ‘But, after all, it doesn’t very much matter,’ she said to herself, a moment afterwards. ‘Alec thinks it was only my own curiosity that made me meddle with the will; and he won’t tell upon me, that’s certain. I wonder whether Mr. Lindsay has left me anything! I suppose James never looked; he was only anxious to find out what he was to have for himself. And Alec never would tell me. I wonder what Alec himself will get. I shouldn’t wonder if he gets as much us James. Oh! I wish he had not caught me just now!’