I should have felt much encumbered by so large a fortune. I'm afraid
it would have made me dizzy and foolish; indeed, sir, I feel quite
unequal to the responsibility of such a stewardship. I feel deeply
grateful to my poor uncle, and also to you, for your kind wishes in my
regard, but, believe me, I am quite content for matters to stand just
as they are, so far as _I_ am concerned." Then breaking down, May
broke out into a regular womanly fit of crying.

"May," said the lawyer, more gently, "when you took those papers out of
that infer--that closet there, did you see those two wills lying
together?"

"I saw nothing, sir, except the papers I went to get."

"And which you burned?"

"Which I burned up to the last scrap."

"Very well. You burned up the will too. You have been purified by
fire with a vengeance. Do you still believe in guardian angels?"

"Just as firmly as ever, sir," she replied, fixing her clear eyes on
him.

"Where was _yours_, pray, while you was doing just what the devil would
have you?"

"Guarding me from evils to come, I trust. Oh, sir, it is very perilous
to one's soul to be rich!" she exclaimed, with one of her sunlit
expressions.