overed herself:

"Please! please do not think I am ungrateful to you for your kindness
in coming here and so quickly. I really am grateful; and I have every
confidence in your judgment. If you wish, or think it best, we can be
alone." I stood up; but Mr. Marvin made a dissentient gesture. He was
evidently pleased with her attitude; there was geniality in his voice
and manner as he spoke:

"Not at all! Not at all! There is no restriction on your Father's
part; and on my own I am quite willing. Indeed, all told, it may be
better. From what you have said of Mr. Trelawny's illness, and the
other--incidental--matters, it will be well in case of any grave
eventuality, that it was understood from the first, that circumstances
were ruled by your Father's own imperative instructions. For, please
understand me, his instructions are imperative--most imperative. They
are so unyielding that he has given me a Power of Attorney, under which
I have undertaken to act, authorising me to see his written wishes
carried out. Please believe me once for all, that he intended fully
everything mentioned in that letter to you! Whilst he is alive he is
to remain in his own room; and none of his property is to be removed
from it under any circumstances whatever. He has even given an
inventory of the articles which are not to be displaced."

Miss Trelawny was silent. She looked somewhat distressed; so, thinking
that I understood the immediate cause, I asked:

"May we see the list?" Miss Trelawny's face at once brightened; but it
fell again as the lawyer answered promptly--he was evidently prepared
for the question:

"Not unless I am compelled to take action on the Power of Attorney. I
have brought that instrument with me. You will recognise, Mr.
Ross"--he said this with a sort of business conviction which I had
noticed in his professional work, as he handed me the deed--"how
strongly it is worded, and how the grantor made his wishes apparent in
such a way as to leave no loophole. It is his own wording, except for
certain legal formalities; and I assure you I have seldom seen a more
iron-clad document. Even I myself have no power to make the slightest
relaxation of the instructions, without committing a distinct breach of
faith. And that, I need not tell you, is impossible." He evidently
added the last words in order to prevent an appeal to his personal
consideration. He did not like the seeming harshness of his words,
how