s, stood up to receive the young ladies as they passed on to the
place reserved for them.

Mr Dawson handed the girls to their places, and then seated himself at
the table, and proceeded to unfold a large parchment.

"It will be well that I should remark," said he, looking up over his
spectacles, "that the late Madam Furnival had intended, at the time of
her death, to execute a fresh will. I am sorry to say it was not
signed. This, therefore, is her last will, as duly executed. It bears
date the fourteenth of November, in the year 1691--"

An ejaculation of dismay, though under her breath, came from Rhoda, the
lawyer went on:--

"--When Mrs Catherine Peveril, mother of Mrs Rhoda here, was just
married, and before the marriage of Mrs Anne Furnival, mother to Mrs
Phoebe Latrobe, who is also present. The intended will would have made
provision for both of these young gentlewomen, grand-daughters to Madam
Furnival. By the provisions of the present one, one of them is
worsened, and the other bettered."

Rhoda's alarm was over. The last sentence reassured her.

Mr Dawson cleared his voice, and began to read. The will commenced
with the preamble then usual, in which the testatrix declared her
religious views as a member of the Church of England; and went on to
state that she wished to be buried with her ancestors, in the family
vault, in the nave of Tewkesbury Abbey. One hundred pounds was
bequeathed to the Vicar of Tewkesbury, for the time being; twenty pounds
and a suit of mourning to every servant who should have been in her
employ for five years at the date of her death; six months' wages to
those who should have been with her for a shorter time; a piece of black
satin sufficient to make a gown, mantua, and hood, and forty pounds in
money, to each inmate of the Maidens' Lodge. Mourning rings were left
to the Maidens, the Vicar. Dr Saunders, Mr Dawson, and several
friends mentioned by name, of whom Sir Richard Delawarr was one. Then
the testatrix gave, devised, and bequeathed to her "dear daughter
Catherine, wife of Francis Peveril, Esquire, with remainder to the heirs
of her body, the sum of two thousand pounds of lawful money."

Rhoda's face grew eager, as she listened for the next sentence.

"Lastly, I give, devise, and bequeath the Abbey of Cressingham, commonly
called White-Ladies, and all other my real and personal estate
whatsoever, not hereinbefore excepted, to my dear daughter Anne
Furnival, her