"Oh, yes, yes!" said Clara, earnestly. "I do very much desire to
remain in my own home, among my old familiar friends. My dear father
only consulted my comfort and happiness when he left these
instructions."

"There can be, therefore, no reason why Miss Day should be disturbed
in her present home," said Traverse.

Colonel Le Noir smiled grimly, saying:

"I am sorry, Doctor Williams, to differ with you or to distress Miss
Day. But if, as she says, her lamented father consulted her pleasure
in those last instructions, he certainly consulted nothing else--not
the proprieties of conventionalism, the opinion of the world, nor
the future welfare of his daughter. Therefore, as a man of Doctor
Day's high position and character in his sane moments never could
have made such a singular arrangement, I am forced to the conclusion
that he could not, at the time of giving those instructions, have
been in his right mind. Consequently, I cannot venture to act upon
any 'verbal instructions,' however well attested, but shall be
guided in every respect by the will, executed while yet the testator
was in sound body and mind."

"Doctor Rocke and myself are both physicians competent to certify
that, at the time of leaving these directions, our respected friend
was perfectly sound in mind at least," said Doctor Williams.

"That, sir, I repeat, I contest. And, acting upon the authority of
the will, I shall proceed to take charge of my ward as well as of
her estate. And as I think this house, under all the circumstances,