atching her dress nervously, as she was moving away.

"Yes, I believe so. I was not to have told you, but--"

"There is no reason that it should do me any harm," said Margaret,
almost smiling, and looking as if she was putting a restraint on
something she wished to say. "Go down, dear Ethel--Aubrey will be
waiting for you."

Ethel went down to the difficult task of hearing Aubrey's lessons, while
Harry was pretending to write to Mrs. Arnott, but, in reality, teaching
Gertrude the parts of a ship, occasionally acting mast, for her to
climb.

By and by Dr. May came in. "Margaret not downstairs yet?" he said.

"She is dressed, but will not come down till the evening," said Ethel.

"I'll go to her. She will be pleased. Come up presently, Ethel. Or,
where's Richard?"

"Gone out," said Harry. "What, is it anything left to her?"

"The best, the best!" said Dr. May. "Ethel, listen--twenty thousand, to
build and endow a church for Cocksmoor!"

No need to bid Ethel listen. She gave a sort of leap in her chair, then
looked almost ready to faint.

"My dear child," said her father, "This is your wish. I give you joy,
indeed I do!"

Ethel drew his arm round her, and leaned against him. "My wish! my
wish!" she repeated, as if questioning the drift of the words.

"I'm glad it is found!" cried Harry. "Now I know why he talked of
Cocksmoor, and seemed to rest in planning for it. You will mind the roof
is as he said."

"You must talk to Dr. Spencer about that," said Dr. May. "The captain
means to leave it entirely in our hands."

"Dear Alan!" exclaimed Ethel. "My wish! Oh, yes, but how gained? Yet,
Cocksmoor with a church! I don't know how to be glad enough, and yet--"

"You shall read the sentence," said Dr. May. "'In testimony of
thankfulness for mercy vouchsafed to him here--' poor dear boy!"

"What does the captain say?" asked Harry.

"He is rather astounded, but he owns that the estate can bear it, for
old Halliday had saved a great deal, and there will be more before
Hector comes of age."

"And Hector?"

"Yes, we get him back. I am fellow-trustee with Captain Gordon, and as
to personal guardianship, I fancy the captain found he could not make
the boy happy, and thinks you no bad specimen of our training."

"Famous!" cried Harry. "Hector will hurrah now! Is that all?"

"Except legacies to Captain Gordon, and some Scottish relations. But
poor Margaret ought to hear it. Ethel, don't be long in coming."

With