s offended
her seriously: he has repudiated all her kindness and left the house."

"Dear, dear!" said the lawyer; "how sad!"

"How ungrateful, you mean!" said Bertha.

"That is quite true. How different from your conduct, my dear young
lady."

As the lawyer spoke, he looked full into Bertha's excited face.

"Ah!" said Miss Keys, with a sigh, "if I had that wealth I should know
what to do with it; for instance, you, Mr. Wiltshire, should not
suffer."

Now, Mr. Wiltshire was not immaculate. He had often admired Bertha: he
had thought her an extremely taking girl. It had even occurred to him
that, under certain conditions, she might be a very suitable wife for
him. He was a widower of ten years' standing.

"I will see my client now that I have come," he said, rising. "Perhaps
you had better prepare her for my visit."

"She knows you are coming. I will take you up at once."

"But it may be too great a shock."

"Not at all; she is past all that sort of thing. Come this way."

Bertha and the lawyer entered the heavily-curtained, softly carpeted
room. Their footsteps made no sound as they crossed the floor. The
nurses withdrew and they approached the bedside. Bertha had ink and
paper ready to hand. The lawyer held out his hand to Mrs. Aylmer.

"My dear, dear friend," he said, in that solemn voice which he thought
befitting a death-bed and which he only used on these special occasions,
"this is a most trying moment; but if I can do anything to relieve your
mind, and to help you to a just disposition of the great wealth with
which Providence has endowed you, it may ease your last moments."

"Yes," said Mrs. Aylmer, in a choking voice, "they are my last moments;
but I think all my affairs are settled."

Bertha looked at him and withdrew. Her eyes seemed to say: "Take my
part, and you will not repent it."

Mr. Wiltshire immediately took his cue.

"I am given to understand that Mr. Trevor has offended you," he said;
"is that so?"

"He has, mortally; but I am too ill to worry now."

"It will be easy to put a codicil to your will if you have any fresh
desires with regard to your property," said Mr. Wiltshire.

"I am dying, Mr. Wiltshire. When you come to face death, you don't much
care about money. It cannot go with you, you know."

"But it can stay behind you, my dear madam, and do good to others."

"True, true."

"I fear, I greatly fear that Mr. Trevor may squander it," said Mr.
Wiltshire slowly.

"I h