you respected his wishes while he was alive it seems pretty rotten in you
to take the stand you're taking now."

"What do you mean?"

"He virtually asked you to make an end of him. You both knew there was no
chance. You operated and he died. I'm speaking plainly, you see. No one
blames you. You did your best. But it seems to me that if you could do
what he asked you to do at that time, you ought to do what he asks of you
now. As long as you were willing to respect his last wish alive, you ought
not to stir up a rumpus over his first wish dead."

The two men were looking hard into each other's eyes. George's voice shook
a little, but not from fear or nervousness. He was shivering with the
chill that precedes fever.

Anne drew a step or two nearer. She laid an appealing hand on George's
arm.

"I think I understand you, George," said Thorpe slowly. "You are telling
me that you believe I took my grandfather's life by design. You--"

"No," said George quietly, "I'm not saying that, Brady. I'm saying that
you owe as much to him now as you did when he was alive. If you had not
consented to operate, this will would never have been drawn. If you had
refused, the first will would have been read to-day. I guess you are
entirely responsible for the making of this new will, and that's why I say
you ought to be man enough to stand by your work."

Thorpe turned away. His face was very white and his hands were clenched.

Anne shook her brother's arm. "Why,--oh, why did you say that to him,
George? Why--"

"Because it ought to have been said to him," said George coolly; "that's
why. He made old Mr. Thorpe see things from his point of view, and it's up
to him to shoulder the responsibility."

Mrs. Tresslyn spoke to Murray. "Is there any reason why we shouldn't have
tea, Murray? Serve it, please." She turned to Judge Hollenback. "I don't
see any sense in trying to settle all the little details to-day, do you,
Judge Hollenback? We've done all that it is possible to do to-day. The
will has been read. That is all we came for, I fancy. I confess that I am
astonished by several of the provisions, but the more I think of them the
less unreasonable they seem to be. We have nothing to quarrel about. Every
one appears to be satisfied except Dr. Thorpe, so let us have tea--and
peace. Sit down, Braden. You can't decide the question to-day. It has too
many angles."

Braden lifted his head. "Thank you, Mrs. Tresslyn; I shall not wait. At