be brought to bear which might
show the expedience of making some arrangement. Any melancholy event
is, I trust, far distant, but contingencies should be provided for.'

'Exactly so. He is recovering now, but these attacks always leave
effects on the heart, and at his age, with his habits, no one knows
what may happen. Of course it would not make much difference to the
boy.'

'No, the Court of Chancery would appoint the most suitable natural
guardians.'

'But,' said Mrs. Egremont, 'I am afraid that the personal property when
divided would not be much of a provision for her.'

'You are right. The investments are unfortunately and
disproportionately small.'

'She ought either to have them all, or there should be a charge on the
estate,' said the Canoness decisively. 'If possible, he must be made
to move.'

'Oh, don't!' cried Nuttie, jumping up from the floor. 'He mustn't be
upset on any account.'

'My dear, I had no notion that you heard us!' exclaimed her aunt. 'I
thought Alwyn was making too much noise with his soldiers.'

'I beg your pardon,' said Nuttie, 'perhaps I should have spoken sooner,
but indeed he must not be worried and disturbed,' she added, somewhat
fiercely.

'Don't be afraid, my dear,' said her aunt. 'Mr. Bulfinch knows that
your father is in no condition to have such matters brought before him.'

'Certainly,' said the old lawyer politely;' and we will trust that Miss
Egremont's prospects may soon come forward on a more auspicious
occasion.'

Nuttie could have beaten him, but she was obliged to content herself
with such a sweeping charge of her Zulus among Alwyn's Englishmen, that
their general shrieked out in indignation against such a variation of
the accustomed programme of all their games.

Nuttie thought she had defended her patient sufficiently, but she found
she had been mistaken, for when her aunt had left them, some days
later, her father began, 'We are well quit of her. Those troublesome
dictatorial women always get worse when they are left widows--taking
upon them to say what their dear husbands would have said, forsooth.'

'Aunt Jane was very kind to me,' said Ursula, not in the least knowing
what he was thinking of.

'To you. Ay, I should think so, taking upon her to lecture me about
securing a provision for you.'

'Oh! I hoped--'

'What?' he broke in. 'You knew of it! You set her on, I suppose.'

'Oh! no, no, father. She and Mr. Bulfinch began about it,