estate that began at something less than one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars, is quite different from a third of it ten years
ago, plus compound interest," Alix said, bringing her clear brows
together with a quizzical smile. "They've broken the will."

Peter, in the silence, whistled expressively.

"Gee--rusalem!" he exclaimed. "What does it come to?"

At this Alix looked very sober, gazed down at the fire, and shook
her head.

"All he had!" she answered, briefly.

Peter was silent, looking at her in stupefaction.

"Almost, that is," Alix amended more cheerfully. "As it was--we
should have had more than thirty thousand apiece. As it is, Anne
gets it all, or if not quite all, nearly all."

"Gets!" he echoed, hotly. "How do you mean?"

"It seems to be perfectly just," the girl answered, rather
lifelessly. But immediately she laughed. "Don't look so awful,
Peter. In the first place, Cherry and I still have the house. In
the second place, I am singing at St. Raphael's for five hundred a
year, and singing other places now and then."

"Alix, aren't you corking!" he said, with his pleasantest smile.