Cousin Henry

hn's Ex

were eaten freely, though the occasion was not a happy one. Appetites are good even amidst grief, and the farmers of Llanfeare took their victuals and their wine in funereal silence, but not without enjoyment. Mr Apjohn and Dr Powell also were hungry, and being accustomed, perhaps, to such entertainments, did not allow the good things prepared to go waste. But Cousin Henry, though he made an attempt, could not swallow a morsel. He took a glass of wine, and then a second, helping himself from the bottle as it stood near at hand; but he ate nothing, and spoke hardly a word. At first he made some attempt, but his voice seemed to fail him. Not one of the farmers addressed a syllable to him. He had b

g had ceased, "I think we might as well go into the next room. Miss Brod

ting with the housekeeper beside her. She shook hands in silence with the attorney, the doctor, and all the tenants, and then, as she took her s

will of her master, who respected her so thoroughly." Mrs Griffith bobbed a curtsey in

ditated delay, he held in his hand that which he had at first taken; but he was in truth thinking of the words which he would have to use at the present moment. He had expected, but had expected with some doubt, that another document would have been found there. Close at his right hand sat Dr Powell. Round the room, in distant chairs, were ranged the six farmers, each with his hat in hand be

another minute or two to collect his thoughts. This will now under his hand was very objectionable to him, having been made altogether in opposition to his own advice, and having thus created that "scolding" of which the Squire had complained to Isabel. This will bequeathed the whole of the property to Cousin Henry. It did also affect to leave a certain sum of money to Isabel, but the sum of money had been left simply as a sum of money, and not as a charge on the property. Now, within the last few days, Mr Apjohn had learnt tha

the authenticity of this will which was now under his hand;

end. Every will does that as a matter of course. But then there may always be another a

said Joseph Can

oe, till you be aske

ands. Cousin Henry gazed round at them, but said never a word. The lawyer look

tinued the lawyer. "I am glad that he interru

r!" said the young

Joe, till you be asked,

to the disposition of his property; and though there could be no doubt, not a shadow of doubt, as to the sufficiency of his mental powers for the object in view, still I did not think it well that an old man in feeble health should change a purpose to which he had come in his maturer years, after very long deliberation, and on a matter of such vital moment. I expressed my opinion strongly, a

ith, of Coed, who was supposed to be the

a matter in which his conscience was concerned. In this he was undoubtedly right; but still I thought I had done no more than my duty, and could only be sorry that he was ang

s, from The Grange, an old farmer, who was s

have sent for me, if, in his last days, he felt himself called on by duty to alter yet once again the deci

d the younger Canto

will come to

t out in the kitchen; ye sha

d, though no man in his strong health would have been more ready to acknowledge an error than Indefer Jones, of Llanfeare, we all know that with failing strength

the younger. Upon this his father only looke

ned over nothing as yet; but as it was here in this drawer and tied in this bundle that Mr Jones was accustomed to keep his will,-as the last will which I made is here, as I expected to find it, together with those which he had made before and which he seems

t seemed, had suggested to his landlord that Mr Apjohn should be employed. The Squire then declared that this would be unnecessary; that he himself had copied a former will exactly, and compared it word for word, and reproduced it with no other alteration than that of the date. All that was wanted would be his signature, efficiently witnessed by two persons who should both be present together with the testator. Then the document had been signed by the Squire, and after that by the farme

the day Cousin Henry occupied a chair in the parlour, looking on as the search was continued. He offered no help, which was natural enough; nor did he make any remark as to the work in hand, which was, perhaps, also natural. The matter was to him one of such preponderating moment that he could hardly be expected to speak of it. Was he to have Llanfeare and all that belonged to it, or was he to have nothing? And then, though no ac

fore he left the house, asked Cousin H

ncle for about an hour immediately after the Cantors had left him on

tion against the man, even in his heart. The unexpressed suspicion was so heavy that a man might well sweat under the burden of i

at the Cantors h

hat somebody had been there. Yes, I did kn

anything a

at I re

ou tell me? I rather fancy tha

f all the tenants. He used to scold me because I

scold yo

I used to think that I would go away and leave him. I

pjohn's heart to the poor wretch. "Would you mind answering one more ques

N

he intende

N

will,-a further will, that should aga

ry, with the perspira

he old man made such a change in his purpose,