"Yes, yes; I knew that your sense of honor would be stronger than fifty legal documents like that; I depended on your generosity, Frederick; I drew a medium between the legal tyrant that your papa made me, and the powerless mother. Fred is noble, I argued; he loved his father; he will not bow to the law, but will fling all this fortune back into my lap. I will burn the will and trust to his sense of duty. There was a medium, sir, you comprehend all its delicate outlines, I trust." This was said blandly to the lawyer, who bowed with a look of profound appreciation. Farnham stood up firmly. "Mother, in this thing there is no medium between right and wrong. If my father left his property to me, his only child, on these conditions they must be enforced." He hesitated an instant, the crimson mounted to his temples, and he added in a clear, low voice, "madam, will you say upon your solemn word of honor, that this was the purport of the will you have burned?" Mrs. Farnham turned white, her eyes fell, she trembled beneath the searching glance of her son. "I--I cannot remember word for word, but as surely as I stand here, the property would have never been yours by the will, without--without"-- "Enough," said the young man, "enough that you have said it once, I submit to the will of my father." "And you give up this girl. Dear, dear, Frederick!" "No, madam; I give up the property. You have made us equal; Isabel would have refused me with this wealth; she will not find the heart to reject me now." "Frederick, you are--yes--if this gentleman permits, I must say it--you are an ingrate!" "My guardian must be informed of this will and its conditions," said Farnham. "I expected this!" exclaimed Mrs. Farnham, addressing the lawyer; "no regard for his mother, no respect for his dear father's memory. You see, my friend, what a trial I have had!" The lawyer looked keenly at young Farnham. "You had better let this subject rest," he said; "it has been well managed so far; leave it with this good lady and myself." "There seems no need of management here," was the firm answer; "my father's will must be carried out." "Let me act between you and your gentle mamma, dear sir. She must yield a little, I see. You have a fancy, I am told, for the young lady who has been so long an object of her bounty. Suppose your mother can be induced to withdraw her objections to the match, on condition that you let this matter of the will rest. It is so unpleasant to a sensitive nature like hers, this raking up of buried troubles. Consent to let them rest as they are, and I will undertake to gain consent to your marriage with this--I must admit--very beautiful young creature. Say, is it settled?"