wife. "It's perfectly true. Aunt Louisa was a
detestable person and no one would have stood her for a minute if she
hadn't had money. I can't see the use of being a hypocrite _now_ that it
can't make any difference either way. Oh, why doesn't that man hurry
up!" She resumed once more her impatient walk about the room.

"I wish Wynne would come," said her husband, glad to change the subject,
particularly as he felt that he had failed to be very impressive. "It'll
be beastly inconvenient if we miss that train," he finished, glancing
again at his watch.

"And another thing," said Mrs. Wickham, turning sharply as she reached
the end of the room, "I don't trust that Miss Marsh. She looks as if she
knew what was in the will."

"I don't for a moment suppose she does. Aunt Louisa wasn't the sort of
person to talk."

"Nevertheless, I'm sure she knows she's been left something."

"Oh, well, I think she has the right to expect that. Aunt Louisa led her
a dog's life."

Mrs. Wickham made an angry gesture. "She had her wages and a comfortable
home. If she didn't like the place, she could have left it," she said
pettishly. "After all," she went on in a quieter tone, "it's family
money. In my opinion, Aunt Louisa had no right to leave it to
strangers."

"I don't think we ought to complain if Miss Marsh gets a small
annuity," said her husband soothingly. "I understand Aunt Louisa
promised her something of the sort when she had a chance of marrying a
couple of years ago."

"Miss Marsh is still quite young. It isn't as if she had been here for
thirty years," protested Mrs. Wickham.

"Well, anyway, I've got an idea that Aunt Louisa meant to leave her
about two hundred and fifty a year."

"Two hundred and fif---- But what's the estate amount to; have you any
idea?"

"About nineteen thousand pounds, I believe."

Mrs. Wickham, who had seated herself once more, struck her hands
violently together.

"Oh, it's absurd. It's a most unfair proposition. It will make _all_ the
difference to us. On that extra two hundred and fifty a year we could
keep a car."

"My dear, be thankful if we get anything at all," said her husband
solemnly. For a moment she stared at him aghast.

"Jim! Jim, you don't think---- Oh! that would be too horrible."

"Hush! Take care."

He crossed to the window as the door opened and Kate came in softly with
the tea things.

"How lucky it is that we had a fine day," he said, endeavoring to give
the impre