we returned to our old house on the cliff. Then we came
back to the hard material things of life. We had to listen to father's
last will and testament, and hear his latest wishes. All the family
gathered in the library, together with Mr. Inch, Ruth, our solicitor,
who also attended to the legal matters of Ruth's estate, Mr. Tremain,
the doctor, and Mr. Polperrow, the vicar.

I need not here state the terms of the will: they have already been
hinted at. Everything that a loving father could devise for the
welfare of his children my father had done.

Not a word was spoken when the lawyer's voice ceased. If Wilfred was
discontented he said nothing at the time, and my sisters were too
overcome with grief to trouble about what money was left them. No
sooner had the will been read, however, than Mr. Inch spoke.

"It seems to me that this is the time for the wishes of Mr. Morton and
Mr. Trewinion to be made known," he said.

I began to tremble violently, while Ruth evidently wondered what was
coming.

The lawyer complied very graciously with Mr. Inch's request. "This
seems to be the right time," he said.

I could not help thinking that the matter had been arranged beforehand,
especially when Mr. Tremain produced a certain document and began to
read therefrom.

The words he read were very plain and distinct. They stated that it
was the wish of Mr. Morton that his daughter Ruth should in due time
marry the heir of the Trewinion estate, and while he did not enforce it
as a condition of her becoming his sole heiress, he still trusted that
his daughter's love for him would lead her to obedience. After this
the lawyer went on to say that on the night of his death my father had
reiterated the same wish.

When he had finished reading and speaking I looked at Ruth. Her face
was pale as death, and I saw that she was terribly moved. The
revelation had come to her as a great shock, and I could not help
seeing that a look of anger and disgust flashed from her eyes.

"My father wish that I should marry Roger!" she exclaimed, huskily.
"Never! It cannot be!"

My heart sank like lead; but no further word was spoken. Soon the
family conclave broke up, and we adjourned to the dining-hall.

I felt very strange, sitting at the head of the table in my father's
chair, and for a time was almost overcome; but I rallied presently, and
during the dinner was quietly thinking what was best to do. Although
the head of the family