"What a shame!" cried Ferdy, flushing; "we--Clarry and I--are old enough to handle our own money." "Possibly, but the will must stand," said Barras, drily, "and, after all, as you will see, the new guardian is the best that could be appointed. From what I have seen of this young lady"--he bowed to Clarice--"and from the frequency with which I have come into contact with her since Mr. Horran's illness, I am quite sure that a better appointment could not have been made." Ferdy started. "What has Clarry to do with it?" he demanded, angrily. Barras took no notice, but read the will of Horran. It was short, and to the point, containing a few legacies to servants, a disposal of his jewellery to friends, and the appointment of Clarice Baird to the post of guardian, which Horran's death would leave vacant. Ferdy could scarcely contain his wrath, when Barras ceased. "Do you mean to say that Clarry has been appointed over my head?" he asked, white with rage; "over my head, when I am the man." "I do say so," said Barras, quietly, "and in my opinion, Seeing what I know of Miss Baird, it is an excellent suggestion." "It's a shame. I should have been made guardian." "Ferdy"--Clarice pulled the fuming youth down into his chair with a strong hand--"you and I can talk of that later. Meanwhile, as the appointment has been made, you can do nothing." "I'll see a lawyer--I'll go into court--I'll--" "You can do nothing," said Jerce, calmly and soothingly. "Horran had the full right to appoint whom he chose, and if he thought that Miss Baird was the most suitable person, you must accept the decision." Ferdy sat down, silenced for once, but in a royal rage. Clarice laid her hand on his arm, but he jerked himself angrily away, whereupon a look of pain passed over her face. "You will not find me a hard guardian," she said, softly; then, as he still remained sullen, she turned to Barras. "Are there any arrangements made as to where we shall live?" she asked. "No," answered the solicitor, replacing the will in his bag. "You can live here, or wherever you like. The will gives you complete control of four thousand a year, until you reach the age of twenty-five in two years, when you will, of course, give your brother half that income, and then--as you know--your guardianship ceases." "I won't have Clarice as my guardian," cried Ferdy, wrathfully. "You must," said the girl, in a firm tone. "What is the use of going on like this, Ferdy? The will is a good one in law." "A very excellent will," said Barras, primly. "A great responsibility for you, Miss Baird," said Jerce, quietly. "I am perfectly well able to bear it, doctor," she replied, sharply. "See here," said young Baird, suddenly, and rousing himself from a brown study; "this will gives Clarice control of the four thousand a year." "Yes," answered Barras, "and, of course, your allowance of two hundred can continue, still arising from the letting of the Hall."