Then, seeing that her words did not produce the slightest effect, she
threw her lace apron over her head, and pressing her wrinkled hands
against her face, gave way to silent tears.

"I'm a poor miserable old woman," she presently cried; "and if there's
to be nobody but that child and the tenants to follow me to the grave,
it'll be the death of me to know it, I'm sure it will."

With an air of indescribable depression, the elder son then repeated the
same promise he had given before, and added the same condition.

The younger followed his example, and thereupon humbly taking down the
lace from her face, and mechanically smoothing it over her aged knees,
she gave the promise required of her, and placed her hand on a
prayer-book which was lying on the small table beside her, as if to add
emphasis and solemnity to her words.



CHAPTER III.

GOLD, THE INCORRUPTIBLE WITNESS.


Accipe Hoc.

After she had received the promise she desired from her sons--a promise
burdened with so strange a condition--Madam Melcombe seemed to lose all
the keenness and energy she had displayed at first.