... A very large sum indeed for so young a girl to have full
control of.... Nevertheless, it is yours absolutely and unconditionally,
according to the wishes of your late noble father ... and Sir Marmaduke
de Chavasse, your late guardian, and I myself, have met you here this
day for the express purpose of handing these securities, grants and
receipts over to you, and to obtain in exchange your own properly
attested signature in full discharge of any further obligation on our
part."

Master Skyffington was earnestly gazing into the young girl's face,
whilst he thus literally dangled before her the golden treasures of
wealth, which were about to become absolutely her own. He thought, not
unnaturally, that a girl of her tender years, brought up in the
loneliness and seclusion of a not too luxurious home, would feel in a
measure dazzled and certainly overjoyed at the brilliant prospect which
such independent and enormous wealth opened out before her.

But the amiable attorney was vastly disappointed to see neither
pleasure, nor even interest, expressed in Lady Sue's face, which on this
joyous and momentous occasion looked unnaturally calm and pallid. Even
now when he paused expectant and eager, waiting for some comment or
exclamation of approval or joy from her, she was silent for a while, and
then said in a stolidly inquiring tone:

"Then after to-day ... I shall have full control of my money?"

"Absolute control, my dear young lady," he rejoined, feeling strangely
perturbed at this absence of emotion.

"And no one ... after to-day ... will have the right to inquire as to
the use I make of these securities, grants or whatever you, Master
Skyffington, have called them?" she continued with the same placidity.

"No one, of a surety, my dear Sue," here interposed Sir Marmaduke,
speaking in his usual harsh and dictatorial way, "but this is a strange
and somewhat peremptory question for a young maid to put at this
juncture. Master Skyffington and I myself had hoped that you would
listen to counsels of prudence, and would allow him, who hath already
administered your fortune in a vastly able manner, to continue so to do,
for a while at any rate."

"That question we can discuss later on, Sir Marmaduke," said Sue now,
with sudden hauteur. "Shall we proceed with our business, master?" she
added, turning deliberately to the lawyer, ignoring with calm disdain
the very presence of her late guardian.

The studied contempt of hi