the lock, as it had always been, and returned to her room.

Having fastened her door, she applied herself to read the document. It
was short and simple, and with the exception of a small legacy to Mr.
Newton, left all the testator possessed to a man whose name was utterly
unknown to her. Mr. Newton was the sole executor, and the will was dated
nearly seven years back.

Katherine read it through a second time, and then very deliberately
folded it up. "It shall not stand in my way," she murmured, her lips
closing firmly, and she sat for a few minutes holding it tight in her
hand, as she thought steadily what she should do. "Had my uncle lived a
few hours more, this would have been destroyed or nullified. I will
carry out his intentions. I wonder what is the legal penalty for the
crime or felony I am going to commit? At all events I shall risk it. The
only punishment I fear is my mother's condemnation. She must never know.
It is a huge theft, whether the man I rob is rich or poor. I hope he is
very rich. I know I am doing a great wrong; that if others acted as I am
acting there would be small security for property--perhaps for life--but
I'll do it. Shall I ever be able to hold up my head and look honest folk
in the face! I will try. If I commit this robbery I must not falter nor
repent. I must be consistently, boldly false, and I must get done with
it before my dearest mother comes. How grieved and disappointed she
would be if she knew! She believes so firmly in my truthfulness. Well, I
have been true, and I _will_ be, save in this. Here I will lie by
silence. Where shall I hide it? for I will not destroy it--not yet at
least. No elaborate concealment is necessary."

She rose up and took some thin brown paper--such as is used in shops to
wrap up lace and ribbons--and folded the will in it neatly, tying it up
with twine, and writing on it, "old MSS., to be destroyed." Then she
laid it in the bottom of her box. "If my mother sees it, the idea of old
MS. will certainly deter her from looking at it." She put back the
things she had taken out and closed the box; then she stood for a moment
of thought. What would the result be? Who could tell? Some other unknown
Liddells might start up to share the inheritance. Well, she would not
mind that much; so long as she could secure some years of modest
competence to her mother, some help for her little nephews, she would be
content.

Now that she had accomplished what an hour ago was