' And oh, Jock," she added, "am I
not thankful that after all it should have come about that you should
fulfil those conditions."
"Did you not once mean it for John?" said Jock, hastily looking up.
"Yes, when I thought that hateful money had turned you all aside."
"Then I think he ought to share this knowledge."
"I thought you would say so, but it is your first right."
"Perhaps," said Jock. "But he is superior in his own line to me. He
gave himself up to this line of his own free will, not like me, as a
resource. And moreover, if it should bring any personal benefit, as
an accident, it would be more important to him than to me. And these
other conditions he fulfils to the letter. Mother, let me fetch
him."
She kissed his brow by way of answer, and a call brought John into
the room. The explanation was made, and John said, "If you think it
right, Aunt Caroline. No one can quite fulfil the conditions, but
two may be better than one."
"Then I will leave you to read it together," she said, after pointing
them to the solemn words in the first page. "Oh, you cannot think
how glad I am to give up my trust."
She went upstairs to the drawing-room, and about half an hour had
passed in this way, when Jock came to the door, and said, "Mother,
would you please to come down.
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