y for herself, and did not
feel disposed to humiliate her sense of self-respect by reminding her
aunt of her promise. Another Sunday passed without other incident than
Mr. Errol's visit. Mr. Perrowne spent most of his spare time at the
Halbert's. But, Monday night's post brought an official envelope,
type-written, from the offices of Tylor, Woodruff and White for Miss M.
Carmichael. She opened it, with a feeling of irritation against
somebody, and read the wretched type-writing:--

_Dear Madam_,--I have the honour to inform you that I have received
a cable message from Mr. P.R. Mac Smaill, W.S., of Edinburgh, to
the effect, that, as very large interests are involved in the case
which I had the honour to claim on your behalf as next of kin, his
nephew, Mr. Douglas, sailed to-day (Saturday) for Montreal, vested
with full powers to act in concert with your solicitors. As my firm
has no written instructions from you to act in the matter, I am
prepared to hand over the documents and information in my
possession to the solicitors whom you and your guardians may be
pleased to appoint to deal with Mr. Douglas on his arrival.
Awaiting your instructions, I have the honour to remain,

Dear madam,
Your obedient servant,
EUGENE CORISTINE.

Nothing but the signature was in his writing; this was terrible, the
worst blow of all.

She took the letter to uncle John in the office and laid it down before
him. He read it gravely, and then bestowed a kiss of congratulation on
his niece. "I aye kennt your fayther was weel conneckit, Marjorie, but
lairge interests in the cen o' writers to the signet like Mac Smaill
means a graun' fortune, a muckle tocher, lassie. We maun caa' your
mither doon to talk it owre." So Mrs. Carmichael came to join the party.
Her daughter wished to appoint some other firm of lawyers in Toronto, or
else to leave all in the hands of Mac Smaill, but the Squire and Mrs.
Carruthers would not hear of either alternative. They knew Coristine,
and could trust him to work in the matter like one of themselves; so the
young lady's scruples were outwardly silenced, and the Squire was duly
authorized to conduct the correspondence with the lawyer. This he did in
twofold fashion. First he wrote:--

EUGENE CORISTINE, ESQ.,
Messrs. Tylor, Woodruff an