will make a
difference to you, as there can be no doubt that he had made some
provisions in it for the regular payment of the allowance he had so
kindly promised you. This, unless the will is found, you will of
course lose. Having been a soldier's daughter, I know that to live
comfortably in the army it is necessary to have something beyond your
pay; but fortunately I can assist you a little. I have now one less to
feed and clothe, and no schooling expenses; and I have been
calculating things up, and find that I can allow you seventy-five
pounds a year without making any difference in the manner of my
living. You will be able to see that for yourself. You need,
therefore, feel no hesitation in accepting this allowance."

"It is not a large one; but I know it will make a very great
difference in your comfort, and it will be a great pleasure to me to
know that you will be able to enter into what amusements are going on
and not to look at every penny. It makes all the difference in the
world whether one has four and sixpence or nine shillings a day to
live upon. You wrote and told me of the handsome present Mr. Penfold
made you at parting. This, my boy, I should keep if I were you as a
reserve, only to be touched in case of unexpected difficulties or
needs. No one can ever say when such needs may occur. I hope you will
not pain me by writing to say you don't want this allowance, because
nothing you can say will alter my determination to pay that allowance
regularly every quarter into your agent's hands; and it will be, of
course, very much more pleasant to me to know that it is as much a
pleasure to you to be helped by me as it is to me to help you, I have
heard several times from Mrs. Withers; they are all well, and she
asked me to send their remembrances to you when I write. I do not give
up all hope that the will may be found one of these days, but it is
just as well that we should not build in the slightest upon it."

Ralph's reply came in due time, that is in about a fortnight
afterward; for Mrs. Conway's letter had first to go by coach to
London, and then a two days' journey by the mail to Liverpool, then by
the sailing packet across to Dublin, and then down to Cork by coach.
He had already written expressing his regret at the news of Mr.
Penfold's death.

"My dear mother," he began. "It is awfully good of you to talk about
making an allowance to me. After what you say, of course I cannot
think of refusing it, th