rd, with real earnestness. 'My dear,' he said, 'that's not
the point. Pardon my reminding you that you are here in your capacity as
my amanuensis. I am drawing up my will, and if you will allow me to say
so, I cannot admit that anyone has a claim to influence me in the
disposition of my Property.'

'_Please!_' I cried, pleadingly.

He looked at me and paused. 'Well,' he went on at last, after a long
interval; 'since _you_ insist upon it, I will leave the bequest to stand
without condition.'

'Thank you,' I murmured, bending low over my machine.'

'If I did as I like, though,' he went on, 'I should say, Unless he
marries Miss Lois Cayley (who is a deal too good for him) the estate
shall revert to Kynaston's eldest son, a confounded jackass. I do not
usually indulge in intemperate language; but I desire to assure you,
with the utmost calmness, that Kynaston's eldest son, Lord Southminster,
is a con-founded jackass.'

I rose and took his hand in my own spontaneously. 'Mr. Ashurst,' I said,
'you may interpret prophecy as long as ever you like, but you are a dear
kind old gentleman. I am truly grateful to you for your good opinion.

'And you will marry Harold?'

'Never,' I answered; 'while he is rich. I have said as much to him.'

'That's hard,' he went on, slowly. 'For ... I should like to be your
uncle.'

I trembled all over. Elsie saved the situation by bursting in abruptly.

I will only add that when Mr. Ashurst left, I copied the will out
neatly, without erasures. The rough original I threw (somewhat
carelessly) into the waste-paper basket.

That afternoon, somebody called to fetch the fair copy for Mr. Ashurst.
I went out into the front office to see him. To my surprise, it was
Higginson--in his guise as courier.

[Illustration: WHAT, YOU HERE! HE CRIED.]

He was as astonished as myself. 'What, _you_ here!' he cried. 'You dog
me!'

'I was thinking the same thing of you, M. le Comte,' I answered,
curtsying.

He made no attempt at an excuse. 'Well, I have been sent for the will,'
he broke out, curtly.

'And you were sent for the jewel-case,' I retorted. 'No, no, Dr.
Fortescue-Langley; _I_ am in charge of the will, and I will take it
myself to Mr. Ashurst.'

'I will be even with you yet,' he snapped out. 'I have gone back to my
old trade, and am trying to lead an honest life; but _you_ won't let
me.'

'On the contrary,' I answered, smiling a polite smile. 'I rejoice to
hear it. If you say nothing