"And what becomes of the rest?"

"The whole of it," said Mr. Mool, "will be invested by the Trustees,
and will be divided equally, on her death, among her children."

"Suppose she leaves no children?"

"That case is provided for, ma'am, by the last clause. I will only say
now, that you are interested in the result."

Mrs. Gallilee turned swiftly and sternly to her son. "When I am dead
and gone," she said, "I look to you to defend my memory."

"To defend your memory?" Ovid repeated, wondering what she could
possibly mean.

"If I do become interested in the disposal of Robert's fortune--which
God forbid!--can't you foresee what will happen?" his mother inquired
bitterly. "Lady Northlake will say, 'Maria intrigued for this!'"

Mr. Mool looked doubtfully at the ferns. No! His vegetable allies were
not strong enough to check any further outpouring of such family
feeling as this. Nothing was to be trusted, in the present emergency,
but the superior authority of the Will.

"Pardon me," he said; "there are some further instructions, Mrs.
Gallilee, which, as I venture to think, exhibit your late brother's
well-known liberality of feeling in a very interesting light. They
relate to the provision made for his daughter, while she is residing