that s estimate of mrs s brain was a perfectly correct one she did not in any way connect the conversation about the missing will with the death of the all she knew was that mr had found an ancient ment which would probably transfer the property to as the of john s and for this reason she worshipped the rising sun had she guessed that there was any doubt about the l of the will or any danger of its not being found she would have held her tongue until such time as she saw on what side it was best to range herself but in the conversation she had overheard had seemed so certain that would lose the property and as certain that his cousin would get it that mrs had lost no time in the position s conduct had justified her action for he had promised her an whenever he came into his own and to gain a certain income the housekeeper was quite willing to see her kind hearted young master driven as a from his house some natures are so strangely constituted that they resent kindness and the more they receive the more do they hate the person who them mrs was a woman of this class and all s consideration for many years had only increased the dislike she had felt when she first set eyes on him moreover she detested for her beauty and sweetness and for the certain happiness which the marriage with would surely give her mrs knew enough of the girl s nature to be sure that no amount of money would make up to her for the loss of her promised husband she did not like getting a fortune through her father but that could not be helped and after all the breaking of the engagement would assuredly prevent the girl from enjoying the same therefore the good lady smiled comfortably to herself as she went about her duties and rejoiced the lost to think as she put it in quite a way that the pride of the young couple would soon be brought low she might not have rejoiced so had she guessed the contents of the after dinner letter which her master wrote but she did not and in her fool s paradise would be made miserable would be made a and she who had brought about these things would retire on an of two hundred a year for her services as she thought that could not possibly g ve her less meanwhile after a meal to which he gave little attention retired to the snug little library of the big house and sat down to his desk after a few moments of reflection he wrote a long and letter to setting forth what had taken place in the study of the late he pointed out that what the had had actually come to pass for in possession of the secret now deliberately accused him of the crime added that he had been given a week to think over things and then asked whether it would not be well to dismiss mrs at once lest she should act in a further treacherous manner finally the young man ended with inviting to come down and stay at the big house until everything was put straight that any fee liked to demand would be g ven to him for his services in a significantly added that if got the property would either receive less or none at all therefore and this was the end of the letter � it remained for to say whether he would give his services on these doubtful terms having placed the position before the thus fairly and slipped the into an envelope addressed and sealed it and sent a special messenger to post it in the village afterward as there was no more to be done he lighted his pipe and sitting in one chair with his feet on another he began to read the morning paper which he had not yet glanced at so deeply had he been involved in the direction of his own affairs but the young man s brain declined to interest itself in public doings and before he knew where he was found himself thinking of what had happened in connection with laying the newspaper on his knee and placing his hands behind his head he leaned back to think what was best to be done he sorely needed a soul to converse with and there was no one so fitted to help him as s request for a fee had placed him in the position of a business man rather than in that of a friend so there was nothing to be gained in that quarter but always understood and always gave good advice and always soothed his feelings longed for her looks and touch and words so much that he very nearly decided to cross the park and visit the cottage but two considerations caused him to alter his mind one was that now openly hostile would be present at the interview the other was that he could not speak to the girl seeing that her father had so much to do with the matter knew that her parent was what is known as a hard case and had not much respect or affection for him since he did not deserve the first nor demand the last all the same it was impossible as felt for him to the lost tell the g frankly that her father was little more than a with such a delicate perception of what was right and just as possessed such a course of action was not to be thought of so he subsided again into his chair whence he had risen and determined to carry his heavy burden all by himself and considering that the young man had no experience of burdens he carried it well and bravely then fate who 