h as the twins were
doing about that time on the guards next below, and Hugh said:

"I will go bring them."

"Ah, if you please, yass, go."

He brought them and they were among madame's auditors when later she
said, addressing her words wherever they fitted best, so that even old
Joy got her share:

"Had it not have been for Phylliz, Dan Hayle, he wouldn' neveh took that
troub' to wride that will. But I insiz' he shall wride it,
biccause--Phylliz. Tha'z all. An' biccause Phylliz he wrode it. But he
say to me----"

"When was this?" inquired the senator.

"Tha'z when those twin' make him thad visit, Walnut Hill'. He say: 'W'ad
uze to you if I make my laz' will? I give any'ow everything to those
twin'.' An' tha'z biccause" (to old Joy) "thad chile w'ad die----"

"Drownded," murmured the nurse. "Ayfteh dat transpiah he take a shine to
ev'y man-chile he git his ahm aroun'."

Madame resumed: "An' I say to him: 'Give all the rez' to who' you want,
but Phylliz--to me.' 'No!' he say, 'you, you'll put her free!'"

"Why didn't he want her set free?" asked Ramsey.

"An' you are there--an' silend! I forgod you!"

"Why didn't he want her set free?" insisted the forgotten.

"Ah!" said the mother to the senator as though the inquiry were his,
"Dan, he seem' to thing tha'z a caztigation on him. An' he say: 'Neveh
mine, I figs thad so she can'd be free pretty soon.' An' me, I thoughd
he leave her to those twin' till I'm reading the will."

Ramsey stood up elatedly. "I know what he did! I see it!"

But as her mother chidingly murmured her name she reflected the maternal
dignity and accepted a bunch of keys.

"Go, if you please, ad my room," said madame, "open----"

"Your little trunk, and pop-a's tin box inside," the girl interrupted,
but deferentially caught herself again and with the corner of an eye
felt about for Hugh. But Hugh had gone back to his father and thence to
the deck next below.

"Yass. You fine there manny pape'. One is mark'--you'll see. Fedge me
thad. 'Tis the h-only tha'z blue."

Ramsey sped away over skylights and down a back stair.

The senator spoke: "Who were that will's executors?"

"Ah, of co'se, my 'usban', Capitan Hayle, al-lone."

"The heirs, I dare say, have seen it?"

The lady smiled. "Not at all. Biccause h-anybody can see it if he want,
nobody eveh want, an' leaz' of all those twin' when they are getting
everything. Nobody speak abbout Phylliz, biccause Phylliz is su'pose
drown',