e of it.

As the MacS--- and Mr. S--- sat quite silent, neither looking at us, and
as father was sitting on the other side of the room with his chin in his
hand, and as I wanted to show that I was indifferent to the two S's, I
took out this notebook, and went on with the Record, bringing it up to
this moment.

THE RECORD--_Continued_.

When I had finished writing I looked over at Rupert.

When he saw us, he jumped up and went over to father and shook his hand
quite warmly. Father took him very coolly. Rupert, however, did not
seem to see it, but came towards me heartily. I happened to be doing
something else at the moment, and at first I did not see his hand; but
just as I was looking at it the clock struck eleven. Whilst it was
striking Mr. Trent came into the room. Close behind him came his clerk,
carrying a locked tin box. There were two other men also. He bowed to
us all in turn, beginning with me. I was standing opposite the door; the
others were scattered about. Father sat still, but Sir Colin and Mr. St.
Leger rose. Mr. Trent not did shake hands with any of us--not even me.
Nothing but his respectful bow. That is the etiquette for an attorney, I
understand, on such formal occasions.

He sat down at the end of the big table in the centre of the room, and
asked us to sit round. Father, of course, as Head of the Family, took
the seat at his right hand. Sir Colin and St. Leger went to the other
side, the former taking the seat next to the attorney. The General
knows, of course, that a Baronet takes precedence at a ceremony. I may
be a Baronet some day myself, and have to know these things.

The clerk took the key which his master handed to him, opened the tin
box, and took from it a bundle of papers tied with red tape. This he
placed before the attorney, and put the empty box behind him on the
floor. Then he and the other man sat at the far end of the table; the
latter took out a big notebook and several pencils, and put them before
him. He was evidently a shorthand-writer. Mr. Trent removed the tape
from the bundle of papers, which he placed a little distance in front of
him. He took a sealed envelope from the top, broke the seal, opened the
envelope, and from it took a parchment, in the folds of which were some
sealed envelopes, which he laid in a heap in front of the other paper.
Then he unfolded the parchment, and laid it before him with the outside
page up. He fixed his glasses,