'Is it possible,' said Mr. Grandly, 'that Mr. Burnett seriously
contemplated marriage with Miss Watson?'

'Yes, and her refusal seemed to drive him out of his mind.'

'I never was more surprised.' The placid face of the eminently respectable
solicitor lapsed into contemplation. 'I often tried,' he said, suddenly,
'to divine the reason why he changed his will. Disappointed love seemed the
only conceivable reason, but I rejected it as being quite inconceivable.
Well, it only shows how little we know what is passing in each other's
minds.'

'Then,' said Julia, 'Mr. Burnett has divided his fortune, leaving Ashwood
to Mr. Price, and all his invested money to Emily?'

A look of pain passed over Mr. Grandly's benevolent face, and he answered:
'Unfortunately he has left everything to Mr. Price.'

'I'm glad,' exclaimed Emily, 'that he has left me nothing. Once he thought
fit to disinherit me because I would not marry him, I prefer not to have
anything to do with his money.'

Mr. Grandly and Julia looked at each other; they did not need to speak;
each knew that the girl did not realise at once the full and irretrievable
nature of this misfortune. The word 'destitute' was at present unrealised,
and she only thought that she had been deprived of what she loved best in
the world--Ashwood. Mr. Grandly glanced at her, and then speaking a little
more hurriedly, said--

'I was saying just now that I only consented to draw up the will so that I