“I should say that will depend upon the will,” replied the Major.

“She is a good-hearted woman,” and Jack’s tone was one of inquiry.

“She hasn’t any, Jack.  Not the least bit of a heart.  And I believe Henderson found it out.  I shall be surprised if his will doesn’t show that he knew it.”

A servant came to the corner where they were sitting and handed Jack a telegram.

“What’s this?  Mavick?” He tore it open.  “No; Edith.”  He read it with something like a groan, and passed it over to the Major.

What he read was this:  “Don’t be cast down, Jack.  The boy and I are well.  Come.  Edith.”

“That is splendid; that is just like her,” cried the Major.  “I’d be out of this by the first train.”

“It is no use,” replied Jack gloomily.  “I couldn’t ’face Edith now.  I couldn’t do it.  I wonder how she knew?”

He called back the servant, and penned as reassuring a message as he could, but said that it was impossible to leave town.  She must not worry about him.  This despatched, they fell again into a talk about the situation.  After another glass Jack was firm in his resolution to stay and watch things.  It seemed not impossible that something might turn up.

On the third day after, both the Major and Jack attended the funeral at the house.  Carmen was not visible.  The interment was private.  The day following, Jack left his card of condolence at the door; but one day passed, and another and another, and no word of acknowledgment came from the stricken widow.  Jack said to himself that it was not natural to expect it.  But he did expect it, and without reason, for he should have known that Carmen was not only overwhelmed with the sudden shock of her calamity, but that she would necessarily be busy with affairs that even grief would not permit her to neglect.  Jack heard that Mavick had been in the city, and that he went to the Henderson house, but he had not called at the club, and the visit must have been a flying one.

A week passed, and Jack received no message from Carmen.  His note offering his services if she needed the services of any one had not been answered.

Carmen was indeed occupied.  It could not be otherwise.  The state of Henderson’s affairs could not wait upon conventionalities.  The day after the funeral Mr. Henderson’s private secretary came to the house, and had a long interview with Mrs. Henderson.  He explained to her that the affairs should be immediately investigated, the will proved, and the estate put into the hands of the executors.  It would be best for Mrs. Henderson herself to bring his keys down to the office, and to see the opening of his desk and boxes.  Meantime it would be well for her to see if there were any papers of importance in the house; probably everything was in the office safe.