The evening after he went away, as Carrie lay, half-dozing, thinking of Mag, and counting the weary days which must pass ere her return, she was startled by the sound of Lenora’s voice in the room opposite, the door of which was ajar.  Lenora had been absent a few days, and Carrie was about calling to her, when some words spoken by her stepmother arrested her attention, and roused her curiosity.  They were, “You think too little of yourself, Lenora.  Now, I know there is nothing in the way of your winning Walter, if you choose.”

“I should say there was everything in the way,” answered Lenora.  “In the first place, there is Kate Kirby, and who, after seeing her handsome face, would ever look at such a black, turned-up nose, bristle-headed thing as I am?  But I perceive there is some weighty secret on your mind, so what is it?  Have Walter and Kate quarreled, or have you told him some falsehood about her?”

“Neither,” said Mrs. Hamilton.  “What I have to say concerns your father.”

“My father!” interrupted Lenora; “my own father!  Oh, is he living?”

“No, I hope not,” was the answer; “it is Mr. Hamilton whom I mean.”

Instantly Lenora’s tone changed, and she replied, “If you please you need not call that putty-headed man my father.  He acts too much like a whipped spaniel to suit me, and I really think Carrie ought to be respected for knowing what little she does, while I wonder where Walter, Mag, and Willie got their good sense.  But what is it?  What have you made Mr. Hamilton do?—­something ridiculous, of course.”

“I’ve made him make his will,” was the answer; while Lenora continued: 

“Well, what then?  What good will that do me?”

“It may do you a great deal of good,” said Mrs. Hamilton; “that is, if Walter likes the homestead as I think he does.  But I tell you, it was hard work, and I didn’t know, one while, but I should have to give it up.  However, I succeeded, and he has willed the homestead to Walter, provided he marries you.  If not, Walter has nothing, and the homestead comes to me and my heirs forever!”

“Heartless old fool!” exclaimed Lenora, while Carrie, too, groaned in sympathy.  “And do you suppose he intends to let it go so!  Of course not; he’ll make another when you don’t know it”

“I’ll watch him too closely for that,” said Mrs. Hamilton and after a moment Lenora asked: 

“What made you so anxious for a will?  Have you received warning of his sudden demise?”

“How foolish!” said Mrs. Hamilton.  “Isn’t it the easiest thing in the world for me to let Walter know what’s in the will, and I fancy that’ll bring him to terms, for he likes money, no mistake about that.”

“Mr. Hamilton is a bigger fool, and you a worse woman, than I supposed,” said Lenora.  “Do you think I am mean enough to marry Walter under such circumstances?  Indeed, I’m not.  But how is Carrie?  I must go and see her.”