"I found it-—in his table drawer; I saw it was not valid, so I kept
it out of the way from consideration for you," said Janet.
"How do you know it was not valid?"
"Oh-—why-—I didn't look much, or know much about it either," said
Janet, in an alarmed voice. "I was a mere child then, you know. I
saw it was only scrawled on letter-paper, and I thought it was only a
rough draft, which would just make you uncomfortable."
"I hope you did, Janet. I hope you did not know what you were
doing!"
"You don't mean that it has been executed?"
"Here are witnesses," said Caroline-—her eyes swam too much to see
their names. "It must be for better heads than ours to decide
whether this is of force; but, oh, Janet! if we have been robbing the
orphan all these years!"
"The orphan has been quite as well off as if it had been all hers,"
said Janet. "Mother, just listen! Give me the keeping of my
father's secret, and-—even if we lose this place-—it shall make up
for all-—"
"You do not know what you are talking of, Janet," said Caroline,
pushing back those ripples of white hair that crowned her brow, "nor
indeed I either! I only know you have spoken more kindly to me, and
that you are under my own roof again. Kiss me, my child, and forgive
me if I have pained you.
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