‘Yes, but she is not returned from her walk.’

’I am glad she is here.  I think she takes a sound view, and women understand one another better.  As for me, it is plainly my duty to put it before you as it strikes me, and to offer all I can do in accomplishing, should you wish it, a different arrangement.  You don’t know your uncle, you said the other day?’

‘No, I’ve never seen him.’

‘You understand your late father’s intention in making you his ward?’

’I suppose he wished to show his high opinion of my uncle’s fitness for such a trust.’

’That’s quite true; but the nature of the trust in this instance is extraordinary.’

‘I don’t understand.’

’Why, if you die before you come to the age of twenty-one, the entire of the property will go to him—­do you see?—­and he has the custody of your person in the meantime; you are to live in his house, under his care and authority.  You see now, I think, how it is; and I did not like it when your father read the will to me, and I said so.  Do you?’

I hesitated to speak, not sure that I quite comprehended him.

‘And the more I think of it, the less I like it, Miss,’ said Doctor Bryerly, in a calm, stern tone.

’Merciful Heaven!  Doctor Bryerly, you can’t suppose that I should not be as safe in my uncle’s house as in the Lord Chancellor’s?’ I ejaculated, looking full in his face.

‘But don’t you see, Miss, it is not a fair position to put your uncle in,’ replied he, after a little hesitation.

’But suppose he does not think so.  You know, if he does, he may decline it.’

’Well that’s true—­but he won’t.  Here is his letter’—­and he produced it—­’announcing officially that he means to accept the office; but I think he ought to be told it is not delicate, under all circumstances.  You know, Miss, that your uncle, Mr. Silas Ruthyn, was talked about unpleasantly once.’

’You mean’—­I began.

‘I mean about the death of Mr. Charke, at Bartram-Haugh.’

‘Yes, I have heard that,’ I said; he was speaking with a shocking aplomb.

’We assume, of course, unjustly; but there are many who think quite differently.’

’And possibly, Doctor Bryerly, it was for that very reason that my dear papa made him my guardian.’

‘There can be no doubt of that, Miss; it was to purge him of that scandal.’

’And when he has acquitted himself honourably of that trust, don’t you think such a proof of confidence so honourably fulfilled must go far to silence his traducers?’

’Why, if all goes well, it may do a little; but a great deal less than you fancy.  But take it that you happen to die, Miss, during your minority.  We are all mortal, and there are three years and some months to go; how will it be then?  Don’t you see?  Just fancy how people will talk.’

‘I think you know that my uncle is a religious man?’ said I.