e with the lawyer, Mr. Carlyle; a bottle of
old wine was brought, and we all had a glass before we fell to business.
The necessary deeds were then prepared and executed, and the Scots
estates made over in trust to Mr. Carlyle and myself.

"There is one point, Mr. Carlyle," said my lord, when these affairs had
been adjusted, "on which I wish that you would do us justice. This
sudden departure coinciding with my brother's return will be certainly
commented on. I wish you would discourage any conjunction of the two."

"I will make a point of it, my lord," said Mr. Carlyle. "The Mas--Mr.
Bally does not, then, accompany you?"

"It is a point I must approach," said my lord. "Mr. Bally remains at
Durrisdeer, under the care of Mr. Mackellar; and I do not mean that he
shall even know our destination."

"Common report, however----" began the lawyer.

"Ah! but, Mr. Carlyle, this is to be a secret quite among ourselves,"
interrupted my lord. "None but you and Mackellar are to be made
acquainted with my movements."

"And Mr. Bally stays here? Quite so," said Mr. Carlyle. "The powers you
leave----" Then he broke off again. "Mr. Mackellar, we have a rather
heavy weight upon us."

"No doubt, sir," said I.

"No doubt," said he. "Mr. Bally will have no voice?"

"He will have no voice," said my lord; "and, I hope, no influence. Mr.
Bally is not a good adviser."

"I see," said the lawyer.--"By the way, has Mr. Bally means?"

"I understand him to have nothing," replied my lord. "I give him table,
fire, and candle in this house."

"And in the matter of an allowance? If I am to share the responsibility,
you will see how highly desirable it is that I should understand your
views," said the lawyer. "On the question of an allowance?"

"There will be no allowance," said my lord. "I wish Mr. Bally to live
very private. We have not always been gratified with his behaviour."

"And in the matter of money," I added, "he has shown himself an infamous
bad husband. Glance your eye upon that docket, Mr. Carlyle, where I have
brought together the different sums the man has drawn from the estate in
the last fifteen or twenty years. The total is pretty."

Mr. Carlyle made the motion of whistling. "I had no guess of this," said
he. "Excuse me once more, my lord, if I appear to push you; but it is
really desirable I should penetrate your intentions. Mr. Mackellar might
die, when I should find myself alone upon this trust. Would it not be
rath