She saw the well-known signature: "Andrew Vanstone." She saw the customary attestations of the two witnesses; and the date of the document, reverting to a period of more than five years since.

Having thus convinced her of the formality of the will, the lawyer interposed before she could question him, and addressed her in these words: "I must not deceive you," he said.

"I have my own reasons for producing this document." "What reasons, sir ?" "You shall hear them.

When you are in possession of the truth, these pages may help to preserve your respect for Mr.Vanstone's memory--" Miss Garth started back in her chair.
"What do you mean ?" she asked, with a stern straightforwardness.
He took no heed of the question; he went on as if she had not interrupted him.
"I have a second reason," he continued, "for showing you the will.

If I can prevail on you to read certain clauses in it, under my superintendence, you will make your own discovery of the circumstances which I am here to disclose--circumstances so painful that I hardly know how to communicate them to you with my own lips." Miss Garth looked him steadfastly in the face.
"Circumstances, sir, which affect the dead parents, or the living children ?" "Which affect the dead and the living both," answered the lawyer.
"Circumstances, I grieve to say, which involve the future of Mr.
Vanstone's unhappy daughters." "Wait," said Miss Garth, "wait a little." She pushed her gray hair back from her temples, and struggled with the sickness of heart, the dreadful faintness of terror, which would have overpowered a younger or a less resolute woman.