Mr. Pivott would read the will to him, perhaps, before he
signed it. It flashed upon him presently that a legatee could not benefit
by a will which he had witnessed. It was obvious, therefore, that Stephen
did not mean him to have anything. Well, he had scarcely expected
anything. If his daughter inherited all, it would be pretty much the same
thing; she would act generously of course.

He went into the kitchen, where the head man, who had been retained on
the premises to act as special messenger in this time of need, was
sitting in the chimney-corner smoking a comfortable pipe after his walk
to and from Malsham.

"You're wanted upstairs a minute, Joe," he said; and the two went
clumping up the wide old oaken staircase.

The witnessing of the will was a very brief business. Mr. Pivott did not
offer to throw any light upon its contents, nor was the bailiff,
sharpsighted as he might be, able to seize upon so much as one paragraph
or line of the document during the process of attaching his signature
thereto.

When the ceremony was concluded, Stephen Whitelaw sank back upon his
pillow with an air of satisfaction.

"I don't think I could have done any better," he murmured.

"It's a hard thing for a man of my age to leave everything behind him;
but I don't see that I could have done better."

"You have done that, my dear sir, which might afford comfort to any
death-bed," said the lawyer solemnly.

He folded the will, and put it into his pocket.

"Our friend desires me to take charge of this document," he said to
William Carley. "You will have no reason to complain, on your daughter's
account, when you become familiar with its contents. She has been fairly
treated--I may say very fairly treated."

The bailiff did not much relish the tone of this assurance. Fair
treatment might mean very little.

"I hope she has been well treated," he answered in a surly manner. "She's
been a good wife to Stephen Whitelaw, and would continue so to be if he
was to live twenty years longer. When a pretty young woman marries a man
twice her age, she's a right to expect handsome treatment, Mr. Pivott. It
can't be too handsome for justice, in my opinion."

The solicitor gave a little gentle sigh.

"As an interested party, Mr. Carley," he said, "your opinion is not as
valuable as it might be under other circumstances. However, I don't think
your daughter will complain, and I am sure the world will applaud what
our poor friend has done