with a carmine flush. She was the nearest
relation; hers was the first claim! Her heart beat with quick,
sickening thuds; only Mollie looked frankly curious and unperturbed.

"As I said before," continued Mr Farrell, "we are, so far, complete
strangers to each other; but I judge you all to hold equal rights to
anything which I have to leave. Ruth and Mary are my nearest legal
relations; but my wife's people always ranked with me as my own, and,
other things being equal, I should prefer a male heir. I make no point
of the name; the Court is not an estate which has descended to me from
many generations of ancestors. My father bought it from the late owner,
so there is no real reason why a Farrell should necessarily inherit.

"It is from one of your number, then, that I shall adopt my heir; but,
in order to do so, I must have some knowledge of your respective
characters and attainments. As I said before, I hold somewhat unusual
views. What the world in general would probably consider the best
qualification for the owner of a big estate is, in my eyes, an
insuperable objection. What I look to find, others might regard as a
fault. We all have our own ideas, and must act according to our lights.
I wish then, in the first place, to make your acquaintance but do not
be afraid that I shall make the task too unpleasant.

"For the furtherance of my plan, I should wish you to lead as full and
interesting a life as may be. The Court has been shut up for years, but
its doors can now be thrown open for your benefit. You are free to come
and go, to invite whom you will, and no doubt the neighbourhood will be
eager to meet you half-way. My own health will not permit me to arrange
your amusements; but I give you the use of my house, carte blanche as
regards expenses, and Mrs Wolff to play propriety--the rest you must
arrange for yourselves. If each in turn took the management of affairs
for a few weeks at a time, it would meet my views, as helping me to form
the necessary ideas of character and tastes."

There was a simultaneous movement of surprise on the part of the
listeners, and one and the same word was repeated by four pairs of
lips--

"Weeks!"

Mr Farrell smiled grimly.

"You are surprised at the time implied. My invitations were
intentionally vague, for I had not at the time made up my mind as to
various details. I have now decided that for the proper development of
my scheme three months at least will be n