"I'm bothered if I know. Seeing that photograph got on my nerves, I suppose. Funny things--nerves. I never knew what they were till--Hello, what the hell's that?" A bell shrilled loud and long above their heads. "The mater's bell. I hope to Christ there's nothing wrong." Ronnie sprang from his chair, and they waited a moment or so--as those in invalids' houses do wait on sudden summonses. But the bell did not ring again, and after a little while appeared Smithers with the news that "Mrs. Cavendish would be very grateful if Mr. Wilberforce would go up and see her, alone, for a few minutes." 3 "I hope you've finished dinner?" Julia Cavendish lay, like a queen in state, on the smoothed bed. To the eyes of James Wilberforce, puzzling their way here and there about the subdued light of the room, she looked almost herself again. "You didn't mind my sending for you?" "Not in the very least. Isn't that what I came down for?" The solicitor, unpleasantly self-conscious of his own physical bulk, sat down awkwardly beside the weak form on the bed. The invalid dismissed her nurse. She had intended to postpone Wilberforce's interview till the next morning, to work an hour or so. But her mind was in one of its peculiar turmoils. To any other listener, the tremor in her voice alone would have betrayed the importance, to her plans, of the forthcoming talk. "I ought to have sent for your father, I suppose," she began. "Have you brought the will with you?" "Yes. It's in my room. Shall I go and get it?" "No. There's a copy on my desk. Do you mind handing it to me?" Obeying, James Wilberforce asked: "Is there anything you want altered?" "Well--no--not exactly. But tell me, suppose I _did_ want to make certain alterations, would it be necessary for you to draw up an entirely new document, or would this one do?" "If it was only a minor alteration," said Jimmy, quite unconscious of the thought at the back of his client's head, "we could execute a codicil." "A codicil." She played with the word. "That's a kind of postscript, isn't it?" "More or less. But, of course, a codicil has to be properly witnessed." Wilberforce went on to explain the law of last wills and testaments at some length; and the invalid listened carefully. She appeared curiously inquisitive on the subject. and he humored her inquisitiveness till nurse, returning with medicine-glass and bottle, interrupted their conversation. "I'm sure you're tired," said nurse. "I'm sure you ought to let me settle you down for the night." "I sha'n't go to sleep for at least another hour. I've a great deal to discuss."