g should
go wrong during that time. And for the rest, I may as well tell you for
your comfort that although, in view of this confounded expedition, I did
not think it right to bind Grace to me by a definite engagement, she and
I understand each other to the extent that if I should return to England
within three years, she will do me the honour to become my wife. And--
this of course is strictly between you and me and my lawyer in New
York--if I should _not_ turn up in three years, I am to be presumed to
be dead, and my will is to be executed forthwith. That will was made on
the day before we left New York, and by its provisions your sister
inherits everything that I possess."

"What is that you say?" demanded Dick, utterly bewildered. "My sister--
Grace--inherits everything you possess?"

"Guess that's what I said," replied Earle, composedly.

"But--but--" stammered Dick, "I can't understand it. Why should you
leave Grace all your property?"

"For two very excellent reasons," answered Earle, "the first of which I
have already explained to you, namely, that I love her--and mean to make
her my wife, please God, if we should by any chance get out of this fix.
And the second is, that if we don't and I die, I have nobody else to
whom to leave my property. You look astonished, Dick; and, come to
think of it, I suppose it is only natural. For while you were kept
busy, way back there in Liverpool, over the inquiry into the loss of the
_Everest_, I saw a good deal of your sister, with, I believe, the full
approval of your friends, McGregor and his wife. I was attracted to
Grace from the very first, and the more I saw of her, the greater grew
my admiration of her. McGregor saw what was happening, I guess, and at
length he brought me to book upon the matter, pointing out that my
attentions to Grace were such as threatened ultimately to engage her
affections. I was glad that he did so, for it enabled me to come to a
clear understanding with myself. It enabled me to realise that your
sister was the one woman in all the world for me; and the upshot was
that, after a very frank exchange of views, I was able to satisfy
McGregor, and ultimately to come to an understanding with Grace. But,
of course, she knows nothing about my will, although I made up my mind
what I would do immediately that she consented to wait for me. And the
reason why I have not mentioned this matter to you before is that I
preferred we should, for