ld be possible. She secretly hoped Mr. Warfield might make it so.

One of the schoolgirls, a graduate, would go home at once and meet them
at the steamer. The other two resided in New York. Mrs. Aldred was much
engrossed with business matters and her preparations.

The second week in June, when examinations had just begun, Mr. Castles
came up one evening. They were almost through dinner and Mrs. Aldred
closed the door of the reception room and desired that no one should
disturb her. Mr. Castles said he was the bearer of melancholy news. Mrs.
Van Dorn had died very suddenly in Paris. Miss Gage had cabled for full
instructions. Mrs. Van Dorn's body would be brought home and buried
beside her husband. Miss Gage was to have all personal belongings
inventoried and packed to come with her and the body.

"Do you know a Mr. James Fenton?" he asked.

"James Fenton. He is about as near a relation as I am. He is on the
father's side, I am on her mother's; about third cousins, I think."

"It appears this Mr. Fenton annoyed her some at Florence in the spring.
Then he called on her at Paris and had a long talk with her in the
afternoon, which Miss Gage said upset her very much. They went to a
reception in the evening at the Embassy, she seeming in her usual
health, but not quite placid. It was very warm and she fainted, it was
supposed, but the physician who was called pronounced her dead. This Mr.
Fenton insisted upon taking charge of everything, so I cabled my
instructions at once. The body will be here in a fortnight."

Mrs. Aldred was shocked beyond measure. It hardly seemed credible.

"Do you know anything about her affairs?"

"Not especially," replied Mrs. Aldred. "I once heard her say she would
not have much to leave behind. The money was from her husband, and if
she chose to live extravagantly it was no one's affairs."

"I am glad you take it philosophically," and he gave a faint smile.
"When she was about sixty-five she put nearly all her money in an
annuity so she would have no further care. She told me that she had no
near relatives."

"That was true enough."

"So she lived very handsomely at times, at others quite plainly. She
placed in my hands a sum amply sufficient for her burial, which has
never been disturbed. I collected and paid over her annuity. There may
be a few thousands beside. The income, you know, stopped with her death.
So there will be nothing for the heirs."

"I for one shall not complain. Sh