ibing them, and he went himself to his banker's for them and placed
them in my hands.

* * * * *

"I then promised to have the will ready in a week or ten days. But Mr.
Neville, with many polite regrets for hurrying me, told me upon his
honor he could give me but twenty-four hours, 'After that,' said he, 'it
might be too late.'"

("Ah!" said Miss Peyton.)

* * * * *

"Determined to retain my new client, I set my clerks to work, and this
very day was engrossed, signed, and witnessed, the last will and
testament of George Neville, Esquire, of Neville's Court, in the County
of Cumberland, and Leicester Square, London, where he hath a noble
mansion.

* * * * *

"Now as to the general disposition of his lands, manorial rights,
messuages, tenements, goods, chattels, etc., and his special legacies to
divers ladies and gentlemen and domestic servants, these I will not
reveal even to you.

* * * * *

"The paper I now produce is a copy of that particular bequest which I
have decided to communicate to you in strict and sacred confidence."

And he handed her an extract from George Neville's will.

Miss Peyton then read what follows:--

"And I give and bequeath to Mistress Catharine Peyton, of Peyton Hall,
in the said County of Cumberland, in token of my respect and regard, all
that my freehold estate called Moniton Grange, with the messuage or
tenement standing and being thereon, and the farm-yard buildings and
appurtenances belonging thereto, containing by estimation three hundred
and seventy-six acres three roods and five perches, be the same little
more or less, to hold to her the said Catharine Peyton, her heirs and
assigns, forever."

* * * * *

The legatee laid down the paper, and leaned her head softly on her fair
hand, and her eyes explored vacancy.

"What means all this?" said she, aloud, but to herself.

Mr. Houseman undertook the office of interpreter.

"Means? Why, that he has left you one of the snuggest estates in the
county. 'Tis not quite so large as Bolton; but lies sunnier, and the
land richer. Well, Mistress, was I right? Are you not good for a
thousand pounds?"

Kate, still manifestly thinking of something else, let fall, as it were,
out of her mouth, that Mr. Gaunt and Mr. Neville were both men in the
flower of their youth, and how was