d your appointment. Your brother forbade our mentioning it,
but we did not know, until after his death, that his own children were
unaware they had an uncle. It seems strange, doesn't it?"

"It does to me; _so_ strange that I can't see two lengths ahead. I
cal'late Mr. Graves told you how I felt about it?"

"Yes. That is, he said you were very much surprised."

"That's puttin' it mild enough. And did he tell you that 'Bije and I
hadn't seen each other, or even written, in eighteen years?"

"Yes."

"Um-hm. Well, when you consider _that_, can you wonder I was set all
aback? And the more I think of it, the foggier it gets. Why, Mr.
Sylvester, it's one of them situations that are impossible, that you
can prove fifty ways _can't_ happen. And yet, it has--it sartinly has.
Now tell me: Are you, or your firm, well acquainted with my brother's
affairs?"

"Not well, no. The late Mr. Warren was a close-mouthed man, rather
secretive, in fact."

"Humph! that bein' one of the p'ints where he was different from his
nighest relation, hey?"

"I'm not so sure. Have you questioned the children?"

"Caroline and Steve? Yes, I've questioned 'em more than they think I
have, maybe. And they know--well, leavin' out about the price of oil
paintin's and the way to dress and that it's more or less of a disgrace
to economize on twenty thousand a year, their worldly knowledge ain't
too extensive."

"Do you like them?"

"I guess so. Just now ain't the fairest time to judge 'em. You see
they're sufferin' from the joyful shock of their country relation
droppin' in, and--"

He paused and rubbed his chin. His lips were smiling, but his eyes were
not. Sylvester noted their expression, and guessed many things.

"They haven't been disagreeable, I hope?" he asked.

"No-o. No, I wouldn't want to say that. They're young and--and, well,
I ain't the kind they've been used to. Caroline's a nice girl. She is,
sure. All she needs is to grow a little older and have the right kind of
advice and--and friends."

"How about the boy?" Mr. Sylvester had met young Warren, and his eyes
twinkled as he spoke.

"Steve? Well," there was an answering twinkle in Captain Elisha's eye;
"well, Steve needs to grow, too; though I wouldn't presume to tell him
so. When a feller's undertakin' to give advice to one of the seven wise
men, he has to be diplomatic, as you might say."

The lawyer put back his head and laughed uproariously.

"Ha! ha!" he crowed. "That's