k. She went back to
bed, sobbing.

CHAPTER V

The New Owner

The wild wind and rain, which for some weeks had blown from the north,
changed suddenly to a southerly breeze, and the sun shone out in all its
spring glory on the day of Mr. Ingleton's funeral. Half the country-side
came to do honor to "the old Squire." He had been a favorite in the
neighborhood, and people forgot his autocratic ways and remembered now
only his many kindnesses. The absence of Everard, who should have been
the chief representative of the family, caused universal comment, and
some rumor of the state of affairs began to be passed round among the
servants and guests. Cousin Clare, to whom Lilias had confided the
secret of her brother's flight, shook her head.

"He might at least have shown his grandfather the respect of following
him to his grave!" she commented. "He owed that to him, at any rate. I
thought Everard would have realized such an obvious duty. Whatever comes
or does not come to us in the way of legacies cannot free us from our
obligations to the dead. It seems to me hardly decent to be thinking
about the disposal of the property while its late owner is still
unburied."

Lilias crept away, crying. She knew there was justice in Cousin Clare's
scathing judgment, but she was sure the latter did not, could not,
understand the extent of Everard's bitter disappointment. She did not
care to say any more, or ask questions, and could only wait until the
whole sad, miserable affair was over. Some of the guests returned to the
house after the funeral, and these, with the family, were present when
Mr. Bowden read aloud the will of the late Squire of Cheverley Chase.
Like most testamentary documents, it was couched in legal terms, but
Lilias and Dulcie, sitting in their black dresses beside Cousin Clare,
grasped the main features. There were certain legacies to servants and
friends, a provision for each of the grandchildren and for Cousin Clare,
then the entire residue of the estate was bequeathed to "Leslie, only
child of my elder son, Tristram."

All, except the few who had known the secret beforehand, were filled
with surprise that Everard, who had always been regarded in the
neighborhood as "the young squire" should have been passed over in favor
of another heir. The guests, however, after a word or two of sympathy,
took their departure, and went away to spread the news, leaving the
family alone to discuss matters among themsel