st
of all he would have confessed a failing in his enthusiasm: jealousy had
made him discourteous, had lowered the tone of his intercourse with her;
but to figure as a hero in her eyes was no less, nay more, than ever a
leading motive in his life. But if what Alfred said was true, Adela saw
that in this also she had deceived herself: the man whose very heart
was in a great cause would sacrifice everything, and fight on to the
uttermost verge of hope. There was no longer room for regret on his
account.

On reaching the Manor gates she feared to walk straight up to the house;
she felt that, if she met her husband, she could not command her face,
and her tongue would falter. She took a path which led round to the
gardens in the rear. She had remembered a little summer-house which
stood beyond the kitchen-garden, in a spot sure to be solitary at this
hour. There she could read the will attentively, and fix her resolution
before entering the house.

Trees and bushes screened her. She neared the summerhouse, and was at
the very door before she perceived that it was occupied. There sat 'Arry
and a kitchenmaid, very close to each other, chatting confidentially.
'Arry looked up, and something as near a blush as he was capable of came
to his face. The kitchen damsel followed the direction of his eyes, and
was terror-stricken.

Adela hastened away. An unspeakable loathing turned her heart. She
scarcely wondered, but pressed the parchment closer, and joyed in the
thought that she would so soon be free of this tainted air.

She no longer hesitated to enter, and was fortunate enough to reach her
room without meeting any one. She locked the door, then unfolded the
will and began to peruse it with care.

The testator devised the whole of his real estate to Hubert Eldon; to
Hubert also he bequeathed his personal property, subject to certain
charges. These were--first, the payment of a legacy of one thousand
pounds to Mrs. Eldon; secondly, of a legacy of five hundred pounds to
Mr. Yottle, the solicitor; thirdly, of an annuity of one hundred and
seven pounds to the testator's great-nephew, Richard Mutimer, such sum
being the yearly product of a specified investment. The annuity was to
extend to the life of Richard's widow, should he leave one; but power
was given to the trustee to make over to Richard Mutimer, or to his
widow, any part or the whole of the invested capital, if he felt
satisfied that to do so would be for the annuitan