Let me read it, and know the worst." Mr.Pendril turned back to the first page, and pointed to a certain place in the cramped lines of writing.

"Begin here," he said.
She tried to begin; she tried to follow his finger, as she had followed it already to the signatures and the dates.

But her senses seemed to share the confusion of her mind--the words mingled together, and the lines swam before her eyes.
"I can't follow you," she said.

"You must tell it, or read it to me." She pushed her chair back from the table, and tried to collect herself.
"Stop!" she exclaimed, as the lawyer, with visible hesitation and reluctance, took the papers in his own hand.

"One question, first.