A deep blush spread over the girl’s face. “You haven’t sent for me to tell me he—he was my fa——” “No, no, no, my dear young lady. I assure you. Besides, you probably remember your father?” And he looked at her keenly. “Yes—very faintly. You see, I was very young when he died—I couldn’t have been more than four years old. I can just remember him—not what he was like, you know. That’s all. I asked because—because my mother hardly ever mentioned him—she didn’t seem to care to talk about him—and I wondered——” “Yes, yes,” interposed the lawyer sympathetically. “I understand. Well, you can dismiss any such thought from your mind.” “Can you tell me anything about my father?” He looked at her a moment, and then said: “No, I can’t tell you anything about him. But I can tell you something that ought to please you,” he went on with a smile. “Mr. Templeton made his will, and left it with me before he went to South Africa. Here it is,” and he held up a paper. “Can you guess the contents?” “How can I, Mr. Crosby?” “Well, he’s left everything of which he died possessed to you!” “To _me_!” she exclaimed, in astonishment. “Oh, no—there must be some mistake.” He laughed. “It’s very rude of you to doubt a lawyer’s word, my dear young lady. And you ought not to be surprised. His only relations, apparently, were the Fittleworths, and they’re quite well off. Now, don’t jump to conclusions. You’re not going to be an heiress by any means, so don’t you think it. Mr. Templeton wasn’t at all rich, and he spent most of his money in travelling and fitting out expeditions. I’ve been looking over his affairs, and you’ll only get two thousand pounds at the outside.” “Two thousand pounds!” cried Winnie. “I never expected to have so much money in all my life. Do you really mean it?” “I wish everyone was as modest in their ideas of money as you are. No I don’t, though—I should have to lower my fees! Yes, it’s about two thousand, as far as I can make out. Now, what are you going to do with it?” He leaned back in his chair and smiled at her. Visions of gowns, hats, jewellery, furniture, and finally a trousseau flitted through the girl’s mind. And the lawyer, who had a knowledge of human nature—intensified by being a married man—shrewdly guessed several of the visions. “I—don’t—know,” said Winnie slowly. “There are ever so many things, and——” “Now look here, Miss Cotterill,” broke in Crosby, “may I presume to give you a bit of advice? If you invest the money carefully, it ought to bring you in a hundred a year.” He knew what the answer would be. And it was. “Oh, Mr. Crosby, can’t I have _some_ of it to spend now?” “You can have the whole lot if you like—when we’ve taken out probate. It’s yours absolutely.” “I shouldn’t want to spend it _all_. I shouldn’t know how to.” “Oh, I expect you would. Anyhow—I don’t want to force myself on you—but will you let me arrange matters? Suppose you have a hundred pounds and let me invest the remainder for you, eh?”