CHAPTER LIV.
THE NEXT NIGHT.
Mr.Bratt found no difficulty in the way of the interview, for Mr.
Redmain had given Mewks instructions he dared not disobey: his master had often ailed, and recovered again, and he must not venture too far! As soon as he had shown the visitor into the room he was dismissed, but not before he had satisfied himself that he was a lawyer.

He carried the news at once to Sepia, and it wrought no little anxiety in the house.

There was a will already in existence, and no ground for thinking a change in it boded anything good.

Mr.Mortimer never deigned to share his thoughts, anxieties, or hopes with any of his people; but the ladies met in deep consultation, although of course there was nothing to be done.

The only operative result was that it let Sepia know how, though for reasons somewhat different, her anxiety was shared by the others: unlike theirs, her sole desire was--_not_ to be mentioned in the will: that could only be for the sake of leaving her a substantial curse! Mr.Redmain's utter silence, after, as she well knew, having gathered damning facts to her discredit, had long convinced her he was but biding his time.