placed herself at the small table.

"Dear sir," he dictated--"Be so good as to come to me as soon as
convenient. I wish to make a will more in accordance with my present
knowledge than any executed by me formerly. I am, yours faithfully."

Katherine brought over pen and paper, and the old man affixed his
signature clearly.

"Now fold it up and send it to post. No--take it yourself; then it will
be safe, and so much the better for you."

Katherine called the good-natured Mrs. Knapp to take her place, and
sallied forth. She was a good deal excited. Was she in a crisis of her
fate? Would her grim old uncle leave her wherewithal to give the dear
mother rest and peace for the remainder of her days? It would not take
much; would he--oh, would he remember the poor little boys? She never
dreamed of more than a substantial legacy; the bulk of his fortune he
might leave to whom he liked. How dreadful it was that money should be
such a grim necessity!

She felt oppressed, and made a small circuit returning, to enjoy as much
fresh air as she could, and called at some of the shops where she was
accustomed to deal, to save sending the servant later. She was growing a
little nervous, and disliked being left alone in the house.

When she returned, her uncle was very much in the same attitude; but he
had folded up his will and placed his hand under his head.

"You have been very long," he said, querulously.

Katherine said she had been at one or two shops.

"Read to me," he said, "I am tired thinking; but first lock the bureau
and give me the keys; you left them hanging in the lock. I have never
taken my eyes from them. Now I have them," he added, putting them under
his pillow, "I can rest. Here, take this"--handing her the will: "put it
in the drawer of my writing-table; we may want it to morrow; and I do
not wish that bureau opened again; everything is there."

Having placed the will as he desired, Katherine began to read, and the
rest of the day passed as usual.

She could not, however, prevent herself from listening for Mr. Newton's
knock. She felt sure he would hasten to his client as soon as he had
read his note. He would be but too glad to draw up another and a juster
will.

Without a word, without the slightest profession of friendship, Newton
had managed to impress Katherine with the idea that he was anxious to
induce Mr. Liddell to do what was right to his brother's widow and
daughter.

But night closed in, and