"

"Yes," said Valentine faintly. The shadow of something too remote to
make its substance visible appeared to fall over him then, causing him a
vague wonder and awe, and revulsion of feeling. He knew not whether this
old man was taking leave of sober daylight reason, or whether some fresh
sense of the worthlessness of earthly wealth, more especially ill-gotten
wealth, had come to him from a sudden remembrance of this silver--or----

He tried gently to lead his thoughts away from what seemed to be
troubling him, for his head turned restlessly on the pillow.

"You have no need to think of that," he said kindly and quietly, "for as
you have just been saying, John will inherit nothing but well-earned
property."

"John does not know of this," said Augustus. "I have drawn it out for
years by degrees, as he supposed, for household expenses. It is all in
Bank of England notes. Every month that I lived it would have become
more and more."

Uncommonly circumstantial this!

"It contains seventeen hundred pounds; take it in your hand, and hear
me."

"Yes, uncle."

"You cannot live on a very small income. You have evidently very little
notion of the value of money. You and John may not agree. It may not
suit him to have you with him; on the other hand--on the other
hand--what was I saying?"

"That it might not suit John to have me with him."

"Yes, yes; but, on the other hand (where is it gone), on the other hand,
it might excite his curiosity, his surprise, if I left you more in my
will. Now what am I doing this for? What is it? Daniel's son? Yes."

"Dear uncle, try to collect your thoughts; there is something you want
me to do with this money, try to tell me what it is."

"Have you got it in your hand?"

"Yes, I have."

"Keep it then, and use it for your own purposes."

"Thank you. Are you sure that is what you meant? Is that all?"

"Is that all? No. I said you were not to tell John."

"Will you tell him yourself then?" asked Valentine. "I do not think he
would mind my having it."

By way of answer to this, the old man actually laughed. Valentine had
thought he was long past that, but it was a joyful laugh, and almost
exultant.

"Mind," he said, "my John! No; you attend to my desire, and to all I
have said. Also it is agreed between me and my son that if ever you two
part company, he is to give you a thousand pounds. I tell you this that
you may not suppose it has anything to do with the money in that par