He thinks my uncle must have repented of the codicil after it was made, and himself destroyed it.

I should give full belief to this were it not that at the very last he spoke to me as the successor to Verner's Pride." "Why did he will it from you at all ?" asked Lady Verner.
"I know not.

I have told you how estranged his manner has been to me for the last year or two; but wherefore, or what I had done to displease him, I cannot think or imagine." "He had no right to will away the estate from you," vehemently rejoined Lady Verner.

"Was it not enough that he usurped your father's birth-right, as Jacob usurped Esau's, keeping you out of it for years and years, but he must now deprive you of it for ever?
Had you been dead--had there been any urgent reason why you should not succeed--Jan should have come in.

Jan is the lawful heir, failing you.