This gentleman embodied Mr.Nowell's desires with reference to the disposal of his worldly goods in a very simple and straightforward manner.

All that Jacob Nowell had to leave was left to his granddaughter, Marian Holbrook, for her own separate use and maintenance, independent of any husband whatsoever.
This was clear enough.

It was only when there came the question, which a lawyer puts with such deadly calmness, as to what was to be done with the money in the event of Marian Holbrook's dying intestate, that any perplexity arose.
"Of course, if she has children, you'd like the money to go to them," said Mr.Medler, the attorney; "that's clear enough, and had better be set out in your will.

But suppose she should have no children, you'd scarcely like all you leave to go to her husband, who is quite a stranger to you, and who may be a scoundrel for aught you know." "No; I certainly shouldn't much care about enriching this Holbrook." "Of course not; to say nothing of the danger there would be in giving him so strong an interest in his wife's death.

Not but what I daresay he'll contrive to squander the greater part of the money during her lifetime.
Is it all in hard cash ?" "No; there is some house-property at Islington, which pays a high interest; and there are other freeholds." "Then we might tie those up, giving Mrs.Holbrook only the income.