"To vote for the grant to the Princess Royal on her
marriage? Do it handsomely, I say, the Athenian is better than might
be expected, and will become prosperity better than adversity."
"Being capable of taking others in besides Janet," said the
opposition in the person of Bobus. "He seemed so well satisfied with
the Gracious Lady house-mother that I am afraid she has been making
him too many promises."
"That was impossible. It was not about Janet that I sent for you,
boys. It was to think what we are to do ourselves. You know I
always thought there must be another will. Look there!"
She laid it on the table, and the young men stood gazing as if it
were a venomous reptile which each hesitated to touch.
"Is it legal, Bobus?" she presently asked.
"It looks-—rather so-—" he said in an odd, stunned voice.
"Elvira, by all that's lucky!" exclaimed Jock. "Well done, Allen,
you are still the Lady Clare!"
"Not till she is of age," said Allen, rather gloomily.
"Pity you didn't marry her at Algiers," said Jock.
"Where did this come from?" said Bobus, who had been examining it
intently.
"Out of the old bureau."
"Mother!" cried out Barbara, in a tone of horror, which perhaps was a
revelation to Bobus, for he exclaimed—-
"You don't mean that Janet had had it, and brought it out to threaten
you?"
"Oh, no, no! it was not so dreadful.
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