His daughters, my dear cousins, turned up their noses, coughed and flattened themselves against the wall so that I should not touch so much as a hoop--and I saw these affectionate creatures no more, until--many things had happened. CHAPTER VIII THE TEMPTATION One morning, about six weeks after the funeral, I was sitting at the harpsichord, picking out an anthem of my own composition. The theme was one of thanksgiving and praise, and my heart was lifted to the level of the words. All around was peace and tranquillity: on the river bank outside Alice walked up and down carrying our child, now nearly a year and a half old: the boy crowed and laughed: the mother would have been singing, but she would not disturb me at work. Can mortal man desire greater happiness than to have the work of his own choice; the wife who is to him the only woman in the world: a strong and lovely child: and a sufficiency earned by his own work? As for my chance of ever getting that huge fortune by my cousin's death, I can safely aver that I never so much as thought of it. We never spoke of it: we put it out of our minds altogether. I heard steps outside: steps which disturbed me: I turned my head. It was Mr. Probus the attorney. He stood hat in hand before Alice. 'Mr. William's wife I believe,' he was saying. 'And his child? A lovely boy indeed, Madam. I bring you news--nothing less in short than a fortune--a fortune--for this lovely boy.' 'Indeed, Sir? Are you a friend of my husband?' 'A better friend, I warrant, Madam, than many who call him friend.' 'He is within, Sir. Will you honour our poor cottage?' He stood in the open door. 'Mr. Will,' he said, 'I have your permission to enter?' At sight of him the whole of the anthem vanished: harmony, melody, solo, chorus. It was as if someone was singing false: as if all were singing false. I put down my pen. 'Sir,' I said, 'I know not if there is any business of mine which can concern you.' 'Dear Sir,' he tried to make his grating voice mellifluous: he tried to smile pleasantly. 'Do not, pray, treat me as if I was an adviser of the will by which your father deprived you of your inheritance.' 'I do not say that you were. Nevertheless, I cannot understand what business you have with me.' 'I come from your cousin. You have never, I fear, regarded your cousin with kindly feelings'--this was indeed reversing the position--'but of that we will not speak. I come at the present moment as a messenger of peace--a messenger of peace. There is Scripture in praise of the messenger of peace. I forget it at the moment: but you will know it. Your good lady will certainly know it.' Alice, who had followed him, placed a chair for him and stood beside him. 'I bear the olive-branch like the turtle-dove,' he continued, smiling. 'I bring you good tidings of peace and wealth. They should go together, wealth and peace.' 'Pray, Sir, proceed with your good tidings.'