A Crooked Path Part 24

"Yes, of course; I had forgotten. But did Mr. Newton say that he had a faint hope that he might have destroyed the other will?"

"He did; but it is not probable."

"It would make an immense difference to us if he had."

"Would it?" asked Kate, to extract an answer from her mother.

"Mr. Newton believes that if he died intestate you would inherit everything."

"What! would not the little boys share?"

"I am not sure. But to get away from the subject, which somehow always draws me back to it, I have one bit of good news for you, my darling. I had a letter from Santley this morning. He will take my novel, and will give me a hundred and fifty pounds for it."

"Really? Oh, this is glorious news! I am so delighted! Then you will get more for the next; you will become known and appreciated."

"Do not be too sure; it may be a failure. And at present I do not feel as if I should ever have any ideas again. My brain seems so weary."

"Perhaps," whispered Katherine, "you _may_ be able to rest. You are looking very tired and ill."

Somewhat to her own surprise, Katherine slept profoundly that night. The delicious sense of comfort and security which her mother's presence brought soothed her ineffably. It seemed as if no harm could touch her while she felt the clasp of those dear arms.

The early forenoon brought Mr. Newton, and after a little preliminary talk respecting the arrangements he had made for the funeral, he proposed to look for the will which he had drawn up some years before, and which, to the best of his recollection, Mr. Liddell had taken charge of himself.

"Might you not wait until the poor old man is laid in his last home?

asked Mrs. Liddell.

"Perhaps it would be more seemly," said the lawyer; "but it is almost necessary to know who is the heir and who is the executor. Besides, it is quite possible that since he signed the will I drew up for him in '59, and to which I was executor, he may have made another, of which I know nothing, and I may have to communicate with some other executor. I will therefore begin the search at once. Would you and your daughter like to be present?"

"Thank you, no," returned Mrs. Liddell.

"I would rather not," said Katherine.

Mr. Newton proceeded on his search alone, while Mrs. Liddell and her daughter went to the latter's room, anxious to keep from meddling with what did not concern them.

Scarcely had the former settled herself to write a letter to an old friend in Florence with whom she kept up a steady though not a frequent correspondence, when she was interrupted by a tap at the door. Before she could say "Come in," it was opened to admit Mrs. Frederic Liddell, who came in briskly. She had taken out a black dress with c.r.a.pe on it, and retouched a mourning bonnet, so that she presented an appearance perfectly suited to the occasion.

"Oh dear!" she cried, "I have been in such a state ever since I had your note! I thought I should never get away this morning. The stupidity of those servants is beyond description. Now do tell all about everything."

She sat down suddenly, then jumped up, kissed her mother-in-law on the brow, and shook hands with Katherine.

"There is very little more to tell beyond what I said in my note,"

returned Mrs. Liddell. "The poor old man never spoke or showed any symptom of life after he fell. Mr Newton, of course, will make all arrangements. The funeral will be on Friday, and Katherine and I will remain here till it is over."

"And the will?" whispered Mrs. Frederic, eagerly. "Have you found out anything about that?"

Mrs. Liddell shook her head. "I have not even asked, so sure am I that it will not affect us in any way. Mr. Newton is now examining the bureau where my brother-in-law appears to have kept all his papers, hoping to find the will."

"Is it not cruel to think of all this wealth pa.s.sing away from us?"

cried the little woman, in a tearful tone.

"I do not suppose that John Liddell was wealthy," said Mrs. Liddell. "He was very careful of what he had, but it does not follow that he had a great deal."

"Oh, nonsense! My dear Mrs. Liddell, you only say that to keep us quiet.

Misers always have heaps of money. What do you say, Katherine?"

"That from all I saw I should say he was not rich. He never mentioned large sums of money, or--"

"I do not mind you," interrupted the young widow. "You always affect to despise money."

"Indeed I do not, Ada. I am only afraid of thinking too much of it."

Katherine perceived that her mother had wisely abstained from telling the whole circ.u.mstances to this most impulsive young person.

"And do you mean to say," pursued Mrs. Frederic, who could hardly keep still, so great was her excitement, "that the horrid lawyer is rummaging through the old man's papers all alone? You ought to be present, Mrs.

Liddell. You don't know what tricks he may play. He may put a will in his own favor in some drawer. It is very weak not to have insisted on being present, and shows such indifference to our interests!"

"I am not afraid of Mr. Newton forging a will," said Mrs. Liddell, smiling; "and I greatly fear that whoever may profit by the old man's last testament, we will not. But I a.s.sure you Mr. Newton did ask me to a.s.sist in the search, and I declined. Indeed I asked him not to search while the poor remains were unburied."

"Why, my goodness! you do not mean to say you are pretending to be _sorry_ for this rude--miser!" cried Mrs. Frederic, with uplifted hand and eyes.

"Personally I did not care about him, but, Ada, death demands respect."

"Oh yes, of course. Then there is absolutely nothing to do or to hear."

"Nothing," said Katherine, rather shortly.

"Could I go out and buy anything for you? Surely the executors, whoever they may be, will give you some money for mourning?"

"I do not think it at all likely. I will tell you what you can do, Ada: go to my large cupboard and bring me," etc., etc.--sundry directions followed. "Katherine and I can quite well do all that is necessary ourselves to make a proper appearance on Friday."

"Very well; and I will come to the funeral too, and bring the boys. A little c.r.a.pe on their caps and sleeves will be quite enough. They will produce a great effect. I dare say if I speak to Mrs. Burnett's friend, that newspaper man, he will put an account into the _Morning News_, with all our names. Whatever comes, it would have a good effect."

"Of course you can come if you like, Ada, but I would not bring the boys. Children are out of place except at a parent's grave."

"Well, I do not agree with you, and I do not think you need grudge my poor children that much recognition."

"Poor darlings! Do you believe we could grudge them anything that was good for them?" cried Katherine.

"Oh, there is no knowing! Pray is there any plate in the house, Katherine, or diamonds? You know the nephew's wife _ought_ to have the diamonds!"

"Do not make me laugh, Ada, while the poor man is lying dead!" exclaimed Katherine, smiling. "The idea of plate or diamonds in _this_ house is too funny!"

"Then are the spoons and forks only Sheffield ware?" asked her sister-in-law. "How mean!"

After a good deal more cross-examination Mrs. Fred rose to depart, her pretty childish face clouded, not to say very cross.

"I might have saved myself the trouble of coming here," she said.

"We are very glad to see you, and it will be a great help if you can send or bring the things I want."