point of view, without a word of protest. She had her reasons--but they
were not producible to a relative whose husband had forty thousand a
year. Robert had paid her debts.

An income of three thousand pounds, even in these days, represents a
handsome competence--provided you don't "owe a duty to society." In
Mrs. Gallilee's position, an income of three thousand pounds
represented genteel poverty. She was getting into debt again; and she
was meditating future designs on her brother's purse. A charming letter
to Robert was the result. It ended with, "Do send me a photograph of
your lovely wife!" When the poor "model" died, not many years
afterwards, leaving one little daughter, Mrs. Gallilee implored her
brother to return to England. "Come, dearest Robert, and find
consolation and a home, under the roof of your affectionate Maria."

But Robert remained in Italy, and was buried in Italy. At the date of
his death, he had three times paid his elder sister's debts. On every
occasion when he helped her in this liberal way, she proved her
gratitude by anticipating a larger, and a larger, and a larger legacy
if she outlived him.

Knowing (as the family lawyer) what sums of money Mrs. Gallilee had
extracted from her brother, Mr. Mool also knew that the advances thus
made had been considered as representing the legacy, to which she might
otherwise have had some sisterly claim. It was his duty to have warned
her of this, when she questioned him generally on the subject of the
Will; and he had said nothing about it, acting under a most unbecoming
motive--in plain words, the motive of fear. From the self-reproachful
feeling that now disturbed him, had risen that wonderful blush which
made its appearance on Mr. Mool's countenance. He was actually ashamed