isdainfully, but her voice undeniably lacked
steadiness. "Agitated!"

"Oh, come!" Mr. Minafer interposed. "Let's have a little peace!"

"I'm willing," said George. "I don't want to see poor Aunt Fanny all
stirred up over a rumour I just this minute invented myself. She's so
excitable--about certain subjects--it's hard to control her." He turned
to his mother. "What's the matter with grandfather?"

"Didn't you see him this morning?" Isabel asked.

"Yes. He was glad to see me, and all that, but he seemed pretty fidgety.
Has he been having trouble with his heart again?"

"Not lately. No."

"Well, he's not himself. I tried to talk to him about the estate; it's
disgraceful--it really is--the way things are looking. He wouldn't
listen, and he seemed upset. What's he upset over?"

Isabel looked serious; however, it was her husband who suggested
gloomily, "I suppose the Major's bothered about this Sydney and Amelia
business, most likely."

"What Sydney and Amelia business?" George asked.

"Your mother can tell you, if she wants to," Minafer said. "It's not my
side of the family, so I keep off."

"It's rather disagreeable for all of us, Georgie," Isabel began. "You
see, your Uncle Sydney wanted a diplomatic position, and he thought
brother George, being in Congress, could arrange it. George did get him
the offer of a South American ministry, but Sydney wanted a European
ambassadorship, and he got quite indignant with poor George for thinking
he'd take anything smaller--and he believes George didn't work hard
enough for him. George had done his best, of course, and now he's out
of Congress, and won't run again--so there's Sydney's idea of a big
diplomatic position gone for good. Well, Sydney and your Aunt Amelia are
terribly disappointed, and they say they've been thinking for years
that this town isn't really fit to live in--'for a gentleman,' Sydney
says--and it is getting rather big and dirty. So they've sold their
house and decided to go abroad to live permanently; there's a villa near
Florence they've often talked of buying. And they want father to let
them have their share of the estate now, instead of waiting for him to
leave it to them in his will."

"Well, I suppose that's fair enough," George said. "That is, in case he
intended to leave them a certain amount in his will."

"Of course that's understood, Georgie. Father explained his will to us
long ago; a third to them, and a third to brother George, and a