talent? Is it about him you want to
consult me? Why, that's perfectly natural, now he's coming to an age to
look to the future," Mr. Rushton said.

"Oh, no! it is not about Jock. He is only sixteen, and, besides, it is
something that is much more difficult," said Lucy. And then she paused,
and cleared her throat, and put down her muff among Mr. Rushton's
papers, that she might have her hands free for this tremendous piece of
business. Then she said, with a sort of desperation, looking him in the
face: "I have come to get you to--settle some money for me in obedience
to papa's will."

Mr. Rushton started as if he had been shot. "You don't mean----" he
cried, "You don't mean---- Come, I dare say I am making a mountain out of
a mole-hill, and that what you are thinking of is quite innocent. If not
about our young friend here, some of your charities or improvements? You
are a most extravagant little lady in your improvements, Lady Randolph.
Those last cottages you know--but I don't doubt the estate will reap the
advantage, and it's an outlay that pays; oh, yes, I don't deny it's an
outlay that pays."

Lucy's countenance betrayed the futility of this supposition long before
he had finished speaking. He had been standing with his back to the
fire, in a cheerful and easy way. Now his countenance grew grave. He
drew his chair to the table and sat down facing her. "If it is not that,
what is it?" he said.

"Mr. Rushton," said Lucy, and she cleared her throat. She looked back
to Jock for support, but he had his back turned to her, and was still
reading the names on the lawyer's boxes. She turned round again with a
little sigh. "Mr. Rushton, I want to carry out papa's will. You know all
about it. It is codicil F. I have heard of some one who is the right
kind of person. I want you to transfer ten thousand pounds----"

The lawyer gave a sort of shriek; he bolted out of his chair, pushing it
so far from him that the substantial mahogany shivered and tottered upon
its four legs.

"Nonsense!" he said, "Nonsense!" increasing the firmness of his tone
until the word thundered forth in capitals, "NONSENSE!--you are going
out of your senses; you don't know what you are saying. I made sure we
had done with all this folly----"

When it had happened to Lucy to propose such an operation as she now
proposed, for the first time, to her other trustee, she had been spoken
to in a way which young ladies rarely experience. That excellent man