This habit of his disgusted me, for surely the jurors on this
preliminary inquest could come to their conclusions without a
detailed account of all these conversations.

I also resented the looks of admiration which Mr. Orville cast at
the beautiful girl. It seemed to me that with the exception of
Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Porter, who were family friends, the jurors
should have maintained a formal and impersonal attitude.

Mr. Hamilton spoke directly to Miss Lloyd on the subject.

"I am greatly surprised," he said, "that Mr. Crawford should take
such a stand. He has often spoken to me of you as his heiress,
and to my knowledge, your engagement to Mr. Hall is not of
immediately recent date."

"No," said Miss Lloyd, "but it is only recently that my uncle
expressed his disapprobation so strongly; and last night at
dinner was the first time he positively stated his intention in
regard to his will."

At this Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Porter conversed together in
indignant whispers, and it was quite evident that they did not
approve of Mr. Crawford's treatment of his niece.

Mr. Philip Crawford looked astounded, and also dismayed, which
surprised me, as I had understood that had it not been for Miss
Lloyd, he himself would have been his brother's heir.

Mr. Randolph showed only a lawyer-like, noncommittal expression,