upon the business of that
purpose. She talked and I listened, mostly without comment. Only once
did I interrupt her with a suggestion; and as this led to definite
results, I will proceed to relate the occurrence in full.

In the few hours remaining to me before leaving New York, I had learned
(no matter how) some additional particulars concerning herself and
family; and when after some minor bequests, she proceeded to name
the parties to whom she desired to leave the bulk of her fortune, I
ventured, with some astonishment at my own temerity, to remark:

"But you have a young relative! Is she not to be included in this
partition of your property?"

A hush. Then a smile came to life on her stiff lips, such as is seldom
seen, thank God, on the face of any woman, and I heard:

"The young relative of whom you speak, is in the room. She has known for
some time that I have no intention of leaving anything to her. There is,
in fact, small chance of her ever needing it."

The latter sentence was a muttered one, but that it was loud enough to
be heard in all parts of the room I was soon assured. For a quick sigh,
which was almost a gasp, followed from a corner I had hitherto ignored,
and upon glancing that way, I perceived, peering upon us from the
shadows, the white face of a young girl in whose drawn features and
wide, staring eyes I beheld such evidences of terror, that in an
instant, whatever predilection I had hitherto felt for my client,
vanished in distrust, if not positive aversion.

I was still under the sway of this new impression, when Mrs.
Postlethwaite's voice rose again, this time addressing the young girl:

"You may go," she said, with such force in the command for all its
honeyed modulation, that I expected to see its object fly the room in
frightened obedience.

But though the startled girl had lost none of the terror which had made
her face like a mask, no power of movement remained to her. A picture
of hopeless misery, she stood for one breathless moment, with her
eyes fixed in unmistakable appeal on mine; then she began to sway so
helplessly that I leaped with bounding heart to catch her. As she fell
into my arms I heard her sigh as before. No common anguish spoke in that
sigh. I had stumbled unwittingly upon a tragedy, to the meaning of which
I held but a doubtful key.

"She seems very ill," I observed with some emphasis, as I turned to lay
my helpless burden on a near-by sofa.

"She's doomed."