ulfil. It is to take possession of a fine house, and live in it--a
while every year, anyway, and to call yourself by your husband's name.
Is that a hard thing to do?"

Allison grew red and then pale.

"I have nothing to say about any condition. With no condition my
decision would have been the same. What you have to do must be done
with no thought of me."

"But what is your reason? What would you have? You were friends with
him. You were good to him all those long months. You had forgiven him
before he died."

"I think I had forgiven him long before that time. I came to him
because I was sorry for him, and he, too, had something to forgive. I
wished to be at peace with him before he died, for his sake and for my
own."

"What more need be said? You had forgiven one another, and he wished to
make amends. Give me a reason for this most astonishing resolution."

"I can give you no reason, except that I cannot take what you say he has
left to me. I have no right to it. It should go to those of his own
blood."

There was more said, but not much, and not another word was spoken by
Allison. Doctor Fleming, who had been silent hitherto, said something
about taking longer time to consider the matter--that there was no need
for haste. She should take time, and consult her friends. But he did
not seem surprised at her decision, and indeed "spoke in a half-hearted
kind of a way, which was likely to do little ill, little good in this
strange matter," Mr Rainy declared, with an echo of reproach in his
voice, as they left the house together.

"Is she a' there, think ye? It canna surely be that she refuses to be
beholden to him, because of the ill turn he did her when he married her?
She forgave him, and that should end all ill thoughts. Yes, she had
forgiven him; no one could doubt that who saw her as you saw her. And
no one would think of casting up to her that she served him with any
thought of what he had to leave behind him. But she might think so, and
I daresay she has her ain pride, for all her gentle ways. You must have
a word with her, doctor. It is easy seen that your word would go far
with her. As for me, I canna follow her, nor understand her, unless it
is that she has a want or a weakness about her somewhere."

"No," said the doctor, "it cannot be explained in that way."

"Well, what would she have? Man! think ye what many a woman would give
for her chance! A house of her own, and wealth