Master Skyffington was earnestly gazing into the young girl’s face, whilst he thus literally dangled before her the golden treasures of wealth, which were about to become absolutely her own.  He thought, not unnaturally, that a girl of her tender years, brought up in the loneliness and seclusion of a not too luxurious home, would feel in a measure dazzled and certainly overjoyed at the brilliant prospect which such independent and enormous wealth opened out before her.

But the amiable attorney was vastly disappointed to see neither pleasure, nor even interest, expressed in Lady Sue’s face, which on this joyous and momentous occasion looked unnaturally calm and pallid.  Even now when he paused expectant and eager, waiting for some comment or exclamation of approval or joy from her, she was silent for a while, and then said in a stolidly inquiring tone: 

“Then after to-day ...  I shall have full control of my money?”

“Absolute control, my dear young lady,” he rejoined, feeling strangely perturbed at this absence of emotion.

“And no one ... after to-day ... will have the right to inquire as to the use I make of these securities, grants or whatever you, Master Skyffington, have called them?” she continued with the same placidity.

“No one, of a surety, my dear Sue,” here interposed Sir Marmaduke, speaking in his usual harsh and dictatorial way, “but this is a strange and somewhat peremptory question for a young maid to put at this juncture.  Master Skyffington and I myself had hoped that you would listen to counsels of prudence, and would allow him, who hath already administered your fortune in a vastly able manner, to continue so to do, for a while at any rate.”

“That question we can discuss later on, Sir Marmaduke,” said Sue now, with sudden hauteur.  “Shall we proceed with our business, master?” she added, turning deliberately to the lawyer, ignoring with calm disdain the very presence of her late guardian.

The studied contempt of his ward’s manner, however, seemed not to disturb the serenity of Sir Marmaduke to any appreciable extent.  Casting a quick, inquisitorial glance at Sue, he shrugged his shoulders in token of indifference and said no more.

“Certainly, certainly,” responded Master Skyffington, somewhat embarrassed, “my dear young lady ... hem ... as ... er ... as you wish ... but ...”

Then he turned deliberately to Sir Marmaduke, once more bringing him into the proceedings, and tacitly condemning her ladyship’s extraordinary attitude towards his distinguished patron.

“Having now explained to Lady Sue Aldmarshe the terms of her noble father’s will,” he said, “methinks that she is ready to receive the moneys from our hands, good Sir Marmaduke, and thereupon to give us the proper receipt prescribed by law, for the same ...”

He checked himself for a moment, and then made a respectful, if pointed, suggestion: