I knew the influence they had over him.

Herbert had no will of his own--it was the only fault I ever saw in him--and they could twist him round their little fingers.

And now he is going to make Ralph his heir, or at least his heir with the girl he speaks of.

It is a grand thing for Ralph; for the estates were worth, he told papa, eight thousand a year, and if Herbert's little romance comes off Ralph will have all." Then she thought over the years he had been befriending her, and wondered what she should do about that.

Finally, being a sensible woman, she decided to do nothing.