eth to marry him. If Jim were in his place, and I in
Rosemary's, I should have proposed if he hadn't!

But while I was saying these things, I couldn't help wondering
underneath if she had mentioned the "obstacle" to Ralston, and if he
knew precisely what kind of "freedom to marry" her freedom was--whether
Mr. Blank Brandreth were dead or only divorced?

Somehow I had the strongest impression that Rosemary had told Major
Murray next to nothing about herself--had perhaps begged him not to ask
questions, and that he had obeyed for fear of distressing--perhaps even
losing--the woman he adored.

"Of course, I shall leave her everything," he announced, when Mrs.
Brandreth had strolled away with Jim in order to give me a few minutes
alone with Major Murray. "While she's gone, I'd like to talk with you
about that, because I want you to consult your husband for me. Rosemary
can't bear to discuss money and that sort of thing. I had almost to
force her to it to-day; for you see, I haven't long at best--and the
time may be shorter even than I think. At last I made her see my point
of view. I told her that I meant to make a new will, here on shipboard,
for fear I should----Well, you understand. I said it would be in her
favour, as Rosemary Brandreth, and then, after we were married--provided
I live to marry her, as I hope to do--I ought to add a codicil or
something--I don't quite know how one manages such things--changing
'Rosemary Brandreth' to 'my wife, Rosemary Murray.'"

"Yes," I agreed. "I suppose you would have to do that. I don't know very
much about wills, either--but I remember hearing that a legacy to a wife
might be disputed if the will were in her favour as an engaged girl, and
mentioning her by her maiden name."

"Brandreth isn't Rosemary's maiden name," he reminded me. "That was
Hillier. But it's the same thing legally. And disputes are what I want
to avoid. Still, I daren't delay, for fear of something happening to me.
There's a doctor chap in Devonshire, who would have inherited Ralston
Old Manor and the money that goes with it if my cousin hadn't chosen to
leave all he had to me instead. I believe, as a matter of fact, he's my
only living relative. I haven't seen him many times in my life, but we
correspond on business. Every penny I possess might go to Paul Jennings,
as well as the Ralston property--by some trick of the law--if I don't
tie it up for Rosemary in time. You see why I'm impatient. I want you
and