ee my way clear. There are not many women in the world like your
mother, I can tell you, David; and she will know how to go to work
better than I can tell her. So I have made up my mind to leave what I
have got to her. The time you have been working to keep the family
together has not been lost, so far. But, when your mother don't need
you, you will be free to help yourself. I thought first I would leave
you money enough to take you through college, and all that; but, as far
as I have had a chance to judge, those who have had to work hard to get
an education, have come out best in the end. Your mother will know what
to do, as one thing follows another in your life, better than I could
put it down on paper. She'll help you all you need, I am not afraid;
and if the Lord shouldn't have called you to His work after all, I would
rather your mother had the property I have worked for than that you
should have it to put into other business. I hope it will come all
round right in the end.

"There is a good deal more I wanted to say to you, but I don't seem to
know just how to put it down on paper as I want to, so I shall not try.
When you read this, I shall be where your father is; and I pray the Lord
to lead you in the way you should go, and make you a faithful minister
of His word, as he was. Amen."

There was nothing said for several minutes, after she had ceased
reading; then she only said:

"And so, now, children, you see what it was that our old friend wished."

"Mr Caldwell must have known it all along," said Philip. "Well, he
told me there was not much chance of Davie's accepting my offer. I
should think not!"

"Are you sorry?" asked Violet.

"I am not sure. I must think about it."

"I sha'n't seem to care so much about being a rich man now," said Jem,
"since Davie is provided for."

"There are plenty more of us, Jem," said Ned.

"And mamma, too," went on Jem dolefully. "If Miss Bethia had given it
all to Davie, I might have done for mamma."

They all laughed at Jem's trouble, and they grew eager and a little
noisy and foolish after that, laughing and making impossible plans, as
though Miss Bethia's money had been countless. David said nothing, and
Mrs Inglis said little, and the confusion did not last long, for,
beneath all their lightness, there was among the children a deeper and
graver feeling than they wished to show, and they grew quiet in a little
while.

There were no plans made that n