office of Mr. Spencer, the lawyer, to whom had been intrusted the will
of the late Mr. Carter. Those who have even a slight knowledge of
human nature will not need to be told that the attendance of all was
punctual. There was an anxious, expectant look on the faces of all--
not even excepting the old lady. She knew that if her brother had made
no provision for her, she must go to the alms-house, and against this
her honest pride revolted. She was willing to live on anything,
however little, if she might live independently, as she had hitherto
done. To feel herself dependent on public charity would indeed have
been a hard trial for the poor old lady. Of all, probably Mrs.
Pinkerton was the most confident. She had come to feel that her family
was entitled to a large share of the estate, and she had gone so far
as to decide just how she would invest it, and what new arrangements
she would make, for she had no idea of consulting her husband on the
subject.

The lawyer was a gentlemanly-looking man, whose face inspired
confidence in his integrity--a remark which, unhappily, cannot be made
of all in his profession. He took his seat at a table, and produced
the will, which he considerately commenced reading at once. After the
usual introduction, the will proceeded thus:

"To my sister Nancy I give the use of my house, rent free, as long as
she shall live. I leave her also an income of two hundred dollars a
year, which, as her wants are small, will be sufficient to maintain
her in comfort."

The old lady breathed a sigh of relief. Her fears were removed. She
could continue to live as she had been accustomed to do, and need not
be beholden to private or public charity. Mrs. Pinkerton was not so