Both brothers greeted Piers cordially; both were curt and formal with the widow, but, for appearances' sake, accepted a cramped lodging in the cottage.

Piers kept very much to himself until the funeral was over; he was then invited by Daniel to join a conference in what had been his father's room.

Here the man of law (Jerome's name for him) expounded the posture of things; with all professional, and some personal, tact and delicacy.
Will there was certainly none; Daniel, in the course of things, would apply for letters of administration.

The estate, it might be said, consisted of certain shares in a prosperous newspaper, an investment which could be easily realised, and of a small capital in consols; to the best of the speaker's judgment, the shares were worth about six thousand pounds, the consols amounted to nearly fifteen hundred.

This capital sum, the widow and the sons would divide in legal proportion.
Followed technicalities, with conversation.