but
I doubt whether one young man out of a hundred, single, engaged, or
married, could have resisted being attracted by her to just such an
extent as she pleased, especially if he were flattered by the knowledge
that she was genuinely attracted by himself."

Mary made no answer.

"Didn't you say you had some documents you wanted me to sign?" she asked
presently.

"Oh, yes; here is the thing," and he pulled a paper out of his pocket;
"the lawyers write that it need not be witnessed."

Mary glanced at it. "Couldn't Morris have brought this?--he is your
co-executor, isn't he?--and saved you the trouble?"

"Undoubtedly he could; but----"

"But what?"

"Well, if you want to know, my dear," said the Colonel, with a grave
countenance, "just now Morris is in a state in which I do not care to
leave more of this important business in his hands than is necessary."

"What am I to understand by that, uncle?" she said, looking at him
shrewdly. "Do you mean that he is--not quite well?"

"Yes, Mary, I mean that--he is not quite well; that is, if my
observation goes for anything. I mean," he went on with quiet vehemence,
"I mean that--just at present, of course, he has been so upset by this
miserable affair that for my part I wouldn't put any confidence in what
he says about it, or about anything else. The thing has got upon his
nerves and rendered him temporarily unfit for the business of ordinary
life. You know that at the best of times he is a very peculiar man and
not quite like other people.

"Well, have you signed that? Thank you, my dear. By Jove! I must be off;
I shall be late as it is. I may rely upon your discretion as to what we
have been talking about, may I not? but I thought it as well to let you
know how the land lay."

"Yes, uncle; and thank you for taking so much trouble."

When the door had closed behind him Mary reflected awhile. Then she said
to herself:

"He thinks Morris is a little off his head, and has come here to warn
me. I should not be surprised, and I daresay that he is right. Any way,
a new trouble has risen up between us, the shadow of another woman, poor
thing. Well, shadows melt, and the dead do not come back. She seems to
have been very charming and clever, and I daresay that she fascinated
him for a while, but with kindness and patience it will all come
right. Only I do hope that he will not insist upon making me too many
confidences."

So thought Mary, who by nature was forgiving, g