ise me as to the limit of Father's wishes. If he thinks I am
free to act in any way on my own responsibility, I shall not hesitate
to do so." Then Doctor Winchester took his leave.

Miss Trelawny sat down and wrote a letter to Mr. Marvin, telling him of
the state of affairs, and asking him to come and see her and to bring
with him any papers which might throw any light on the subject. She
sent the letter off with a carriage to bring back the solicitor; we
waited with what patience we could for his coming.

It is not a very long journey for oneself from Kensington Palace
Gardens to Lincoln's Inn Fields; but it seemed endlessly long when
waiting for someone else to take it. All things, however, are amenable
to Time; it was less than an hour all told when Mr. Marvin was with us.

He recognised Miss Trelawny's impatience, and when he had learned
sufficient of her father's illness, he said to her:

"Whenever you are ready I can go with you into particulars regarding
your Father's wishes."

"Whenever you like," she said, with an evident ignorance of his
meaning. "Why not now?" He looked at me, as to a fellow man of
business, and stammered out:

"We are not alone."

"I have brought Mr. Ross here on purpose," she answered. "He knows so
much at present, that I want him to know more." The solicitor was a
little disconcerted, a thing which those knowing him only in courts
would hardly have believed. He answered, however, with some hesitation:

"But, my dear young lady--Your Father's wishes!--Confidence between
father and child--"

Here she interrupted him; there was a tinge of red in her pale cheeks
as she did so:

"Do you really think that applies to the present circumstances, Mr.
Marvin? My Father never told me anything of his affairs; and I can
now, in this sad extremity, only learn his wishes through a gentleman
who is a stranger to me and of whom I never even heard till I got my
Father's letter, written to be shown to me only in extremity. Mr. Ross
is a new friend; but he has all my confidence, and I should like him to
be present. Unless, of course," she added, "such a thing is forbidden
by my Father. Oh! forgive me, Mr. Marvin, if I seem rude; but I have
been in such dreadful trouble and anxiety lately, that I have hardly
command of myself." She covered her eyes with her hand for a few
seconds; we two men looked at each other and waited, trying to appear
unmoved. She went on more firmly; she had rec