CHAPTER XVII.
AUNT JANE'S HEIRESS.
"Silas," said Aunt Jane to her lawyer, the next morning after her interview with Patsy, "I'm ready to have you draw up my will." Mr.Watson gave a start of astonishment.

In his own mind he had arrived at the conclusion that the will would never be executed, and to have Miss Merrick thus suddenly declare her decision was enough to startle even the lawyer's natural reserve.
"Very well, Jane," he said, briefly.
They were alone in the invalid's morning room, Phibbs having been asked to retire.
"There is no use disguising the fact, Silas, that I grow weaker every day, and the numbness is creeping nearer and nearer to my heart," said Miss Merrick, in her usual even tones.

"It is folly for me to trifle with these few days of grace yet allowed me, and I have fully made up my mind as to the disposition of my property." "Yes ?" he said, enquiringly, and drew from his pocket a pencil and paper.
"I shall leave to my niece Louise five thousand dollars." "Yes, Jane," jotting down the memorandum.
"And to Elizabeth a like sum." The lawyer seemed disappointed.

He tapped the pencil against his teeth, musingly, for a moment, and then wrote down the amount.
"Also to my brother, John Merrick, the sum of five thousand dollars," she resumed.
"To your brother ?" "Yes.

That should be enough to take care of him as long as he lives.
He seems quite simple in his tastes, and he is an old man." The lawyer wrote it down.
"All my other remaining property, both real and personal, I shall leave to my niece, Patricia Doyle." "Jane!" "Did you hear me ?" "Yes." "Then do as I bid you, Silas Watson." He leaned back in his chair and looked at her thoughtfully.
"I am not only your lawyer, Jane; I am also your friend and counsellor.