m.

"You two brave boys," said she, and there was a cheery ring in her voice
that sent comfort into the hearts of both her sons, "how sorry I am to
think of all you have had to go through, while I, like a silly weak
woman, have been lying in bed."

"Oh, mother," said Horace, with a face that reflected already the
sunshine of hers, "how absurd to talk like that! I don't believe you
ought to be out here now."

"Oh yes, I ought. I've done with that, and I am strong enough now to
stand beside the boys who have stood so bravely by their mother."

"We'd be a nice pair of boys if we didn't, eh, Reg?" said Horace.

Reginald's reply was a pressure of his mother's hand, and with a rainbow
of smiles over their sorrowful hearts the three walked on lovingly
together; the mother with many a brave, cheery word striving to lift her
sons above their trouble, not only to hope of earthly comfort, but to
trust in that great Father of the fatherless, beside whom all the love
of this world is poor and fleeting.

At length they turned to go in, and Mrs Cruden said,--

"There is a letter from Mr Richmond, the lawyer, saying he will call
this evening to talk over some business matters. I suppose he will be
here by now."

"Couldn't he have waited till after to-morrow?" said Horace.

"He particularly asked to come to-night," said the mother. "At any
rate, I would like you both to be with me while he is here. We must not
have any secrets from one another now."

"I suppose it's about the will or the estate," said Reginald.

"I suppose so. I don't know," said Mrs Cruden. "Mr Richmond always
managed your father's business affairs, you know, so he will be able to
tell us how matters stand."

They reached the house, and found Mr Richmond had already arrived and
was awaiting them in the library.

Mr Richmond was a solemn, grave personage, whose profession was written
on his countenance. His lips were so closely set that it seemed as if
speaking must be a positive pain to him, his eyes had the knack of
looking past you, as though he was addressing not you but your shadow on
the wall, and he ended every sentence, no matter what its import, with a
mechanical smile, as though he were at that instant having his
photograph taken. Why Mr Cruden should have selected Mr Richmond as
his man of business was a matter only known to Mr Cruden himself, for
those who knew the lawyer best did not care for him, and, without being
able to deny tha