e
one bearing the name of Vavasor. He then declared that he felt
himself obliged to pass over his natural heir, believing that the
property would not be safe in his hands; he therefore left it in
trust to his son John Vavasor, whom he appointed to be sole executor
of his will. He devised it to George's eldest son,--should George
ever marry and have a son,--as soon as he might reach the age of
twenty-five. In the meantime the property should remain in the hands
of John Vavasor for his use and benefit, with a lien on it of five
hundred a year to be paid annually to his granddaughter Kate. In
the event of George having no son, the property was to go to the
eldest son of Kate, or failing that to the eldest son of his other
granddaughter who might take the name of Vavasor. All his personal
property he left to his son, John Vavasor. "And, Mr Vavasor," said
the attorney, as he finished his reading, "you will, I fear, get very
little by that latter clause. The estate now owes nothing; but I
doubt whether the Squire had fifty pounds in his banker's hands when
he died, and the value of the property about the place is very small.
He has been unwilling to spend anything during the last ten years,
but has paid off every shilling that the property owed."

"It is as I supposed," said George. His voice was very unpleasant,
and so was the fire of his eyes and the ghastly rage of his scarred
face. "The old man has endeavoured in his anger to rob me of
everything because I would not obey him in his wickedness when I was
here with him a short while before he died. Such a will as that can
stand nowhere."

"As to that I have nothing to say at present," said the attorney.

"Where is his other will,--the one he made before that?"

"If I remember rightly we executed two before this."

"And where are they?"

"It is not my business to know, Mr Vavasor. I believe that I saw him
destroy one, but I have no absolute knowledge. As to the other, I can
say nothing."

"And what do you mean to do?" said George, turning to his uncle.

"Do! I shall carry out the will. I have no alternative. Your sister
is the person chiefly interested under it. She gets five hundred a
year for her life; and if she marries and you don't, or if she has a
son and you don't, her son will have the whole property."

George stood for a few moments thinking. Might it not be possible
that by means of Alice and Kate together,--by marrying the
former,--perhaps, he might st