arlie, the income of which is to
be paid to me until they attain the age of twenty-one, for their
maintenance, education, and so forth; after which any sum necessary for
their establishment in life can be raised or taken from their capital,
the whole coming into their own hands at the age of twenty-five. Dear
me! I hope they will make me a handsome allowance when they are
twenty-five. I really think Katherine might have remembered _me_." She
handed the letter to her husband.

"Well, little woman, you have your innings now, and you must save a pot
of money," he returned, in high glee. "What a trump that girl is! and,
by Jove! what lucky little beggars your boys are! I can tell you I was
desperately uneasy for fear she might marry some fellow before she
fulfilled her promise to you. Then you might have whistled for any
provision for your boys; no man would agree to give up such a slice of
his wife's fortune as this. I know I would not. Women never have any
real sense of the value of money; they are either stingy or extravagant.
I am deuced glad I haven't to pay all _your_ milliner's bills, my dear.
I am exceedingly glad Katherine has been so generous, but I'll be hanged
if it is the act of a sensible woman."

"Never mind; there is quite a load off my heart. I think I'll have a new
habit from Woolmerhausen now."

"Why, I gave you one only two years ago."

"Two years ago! Why, that is an age. And _you_ need not pay for this
one."

"I see she says she will pay us a visit if convenient. Of course it is
convenient. I'll run up to town on Sunday, and escort her down next day.
The meet is for Tuesday. And mind you make things pleasant and
comfortable for her, Ada. She would be an important addition to our
family. A handsome, spirited girl with a good fortune to dispose of
would be a feather in one's cap, I can tell you."

"You'll find her awfully fallen off, Ormonde, and her spirits seem quite
gone. Still I shall be very glad to have her here. But I do not see why
you should go fetch her. You know Lady Alice Mordaunt is coming on
Saturday."

"What does that matter? I shall only be away one evening; and between
you and me, though Lady Alice is everything that is nice and correct,
she is enough to put the liveliest fellow on earth to sleep in half an
hour."

"How strange men are!" exclaimed Mrs. Ormonde, gathering up her letters
and putting them into the pocket of her dainty lace and muslin apron.
"Nice, gentle, good wo