lifting up both hands, and
speaking in a pitiable tone--"Oh, that I had the wings of a dove,
wherewith to fly away from my kindred! I fondly thought to have
distanced them, but during the past year they have discovered my
retreat, and I cannot elude their vigilance. Hardly can I recover from
the shock of one visitation--made for the sole purpose of taking an
inventory of my possessions and measuring the length of my days--before
the vultures are again seen hovering round my dwelling. But," exclaimed
she, raising her voice and chuckling as she spoke, "they shall fall into
their own snare; for I will dupe every one of them yet!"

"I was not aware that you had any relations," said Gertrude; "and it
seems they are such only in name."

"Name!" said Miss Pace, emphatically. "I am glad at the thought that
they are not honoured with a cognomen which not one of them is worthy to
bear. No, they pass by a different name--a name as plebeian as their own
coarse souls. Three of them stand to each other in a fraternal relation,
yet they are alike hateful to me. One, a contemptible coxcomb, comes
here to overawe me with his presence, which he conceives to be imposing;
calls me aunt--aunt; thus testifying by his speech to a consanguinity
which he blindly fancies makes him nearer akin to my property!" The old
lady almost shrieked the last word. "And the other two are beggars!
always were--always will be; let 'em be--I'm glad of it!"

"You hear me, Miss Gertrude; you are a young lady of quick
comprehension, and I will avail myself of your contiguity, which,
although you deny the charge, may shortly be interrupted by some eager
lover, to request at your hands a favour, such as I little thought once
I should ever feel compelled to seek. I sent for you to write (Miss
Patty whispered) the last will and testament of Miss Patty Pace."

The poor woman's trembling voice evinced a deep compassion for herself,
which Gertrude could not help sharing; and she expressed a willingness
to comply with her wishes as far as was in her power, at the same time
declaring her utter ignorance of all the forms of law.

To Gertrude's astonishment, Miss Patty announced a perfect acquaintance
with all the legal knowledge which the case demanded; and in so complete
a manner did she dictate the words of the important instrument that,
being afterwards properly witnessed, signed, and sealed, it was found in
a few months--at which time Miss Patty died--free from imp