rs in his hands
that concerned him. And after my father's death, as you know, Miss
Dane, my uncle came down here to try and get hold of them. Well, after
our return, I suppose the delight of having Roger back again put the
whole affair out of my uncle's head, but lately he hasn't been very
well--at least that is the most charitable way to look at it--and he
has been perpetually nagging at me about the contents of the cupboard,
and asking to see them.'

'I cannot think why you did not show them at once to him,' interrupted
Agatha.

The young fellow looked a little confused.

'I daresay you may think me an ass, but I could not for the life of me
bear the thought of turning the old man out after all these years. He
hasn't got many more years to live, and has seemed so perfectly secure
in his possession that I hadn't the heart to show the codicil to him.
Of course, I know most people would call me a fool--our old lawyer
practically did so--but I put off doing anything about it, as much for
the sake of Roger, perhaps, as his father.

'Well, last night I lost my temper, and when my uncle began to attack
my father's good name, and hint that he had dishonourably kept family
papers from the head of the family, I whipped out the codicil in his
face, and asked him to read it through. Of course there was an awful
row. At first he thought I had forged it, and he telegraphed to his
lawyer, who came down the first thing this morning, and we had a great
consultation in the library. Then my uncle shut himself up in his
room, and has refused to see me since. I don't know how it will all
end. I have begged and implored Roger to persuade him to stay on, and
let things be as they were; but he won't hear of it, and meditates
leaving at once. I feel awfully low about it, but what can I do?'

'You are a very quixotic young man,' said Gwen, unable to keep from
smiling at the woe-begone face in front of her. 'You should be
thankful it's all out, and your uncle knows the truth.'

'Yes, and to a certain extent I am. But I don't want them to clear
out, and leave me in possession. I never expected to be a rich man,
and don't altogether like the idea of settling down here.'

Gwen laughed again, and left the room, saying, 'You shouldn't quarrel
with good fortune when it comes to you.'

For a moment there was silence, then Alick turned to Agatha a little
awkwardly, a blush coming to his bronzed cheeks.

'Miss Dane, do you know my