s in her mind, under which
Michael Vanstone's decision had been pronounced. There she stood at the
window, an unfathomable mystery to the sister who had never been parted
from her, to the governess who had trained her from a child. Miss Garth
remembered the dark doubts which had crossed her mind on the day when
she and Magdalen had met in the garden. Norah looked forward to the
coming time, with the first serious dread of it on her sister's account
which she had felt yet. Both had hitherto remained passive, in despair
of knowing what to do. Both were now silent, in despair of knowing what
to say.

Mr. Pendril patiently and kindly helped them, by returning to the
subject of their future plans for the second time.

"I am sorry to press any business matters on your attention," he said,
"when you are necessarily unfitted to deal with them. But I must take
my instructions back to London with me to night. With reference, in the
first place, to the disgraceful pecuniary offer, to which I have already
alluded. The younger Miss Vanstone having read the Instructions, needs
no further information from my lips. The elder will, I hope, excuse me
if I tell her (what I should be ashamed to tell her, but that it is
a matter of necessity), that Mr. Michael Vanstone's provision for his
brother's children begins and ends with an offer to each of them of one
hundred pounds."

Norah's face crimsoned with indignation. She started to her feet, as
if Michael Vanstone had been present in the room, and had personally
insulted her.

"I see," said the lawyer, wishing to spare her; "I may tell Mr. Michael
Vanstone you refuse the money."

"Tell him," she broke out passionately, "if I was starving by the
roadside, I wouldn't touch a farthing of it!"

"Shall I notify your refusal also?" asked Mr. Pendril, speaking to
Magdalen next.

She turned round from the window--but kept her face in shadow, by
standing close against it with her back to the light.

"Tell him, on my part," she said, "to think again before he starts me
in life with a hundred pounds. I will give him time to think." She spoke
those strange words with a marked emphasis; and turning back quickly
to the window, hid her face from the observation of every one in the
room.

"You both refuse the offer," said Mr. Pendril, taking out his pencil,
and making his professional note of the decision. As he shut up his
pocketbook, he glanced toward Magdalen doubtfully. She had roused in
h