It would be hard to say which of the three parties interested, felt most astonishment at this extraordinary will.  Jane Melville stood rigid and silent, with her face flushed and her eyes filled with tears, which she would not let fall.  Alice’s face lost all colour, and she seemed ready to faint.  But the greatest excitement was shown by the fortunate legatee.  He shook from head to foot, steadying himself on the table—­looked from the two girls to the two gentlemen with bewildered eyes—­and said at last with difficulty, in a low, soft, tremulous voice——­

“Was Mr. Hogarth in his senses when he made this will?”

“A little excited, but indisputably in full possession of his senses, strange as the will appears,” said Mr. MacFarlane, the lawyer; “and Mr. Baird will corroborate my opinion.”

Mr. Baird bowed his head affirmatively.  “Quite true—­his head was quite clear at the time.  The will was made six weeks ago, and you, Miss Melville, know how well he was then.  Very grieved, indeed—­most inconceivable conduct—­cruel—­inconsiderate.  I feel deeply for your disappointment.  Try not to give way, Miss Alice—­or perhaps you had better give way, it may relieve you.  Mr. MacFarlane tells me that he remonstrated with Mr. Hogarth.  Most painful duty—­must obey instructions, of course.  Your uncle seemed like adamant.  I pity you with all my heart.”

“And so do I, with all my heart,” said Mr. MacFarlane.

“And does no one pity me?” said the low voice of the heir to all; but it was unheeded, for Alice had fainted.  Her sister and Mr. Baird laid her on the sofa, and applied the usual restoratives.

Mr. MacFarlane began to speak in an undertone, to the new master, of the extent and value of the property he had thus suddenly come into possession of, and congratulated him rather stiffly on the turn of fortune that had raised him from a life of labour and comparative poverty to ease and affluence; but his embarrassment was nothing compared to that of the man whom he addressed.  Francis Hogarth looked round the spacious room, and out of the window to the pleasant shrubbery and smooth-shaven lawn, and shuddered when he thought of the two young cousins, brought up apparently in the lap of luxury, who were to be turned out upon the world with 12 pounds a-year for three years.  The elder sister seemed to have a vigorous and robust constitution, but the younger looked delicate.  He saw, in his mind’s eye, two governesses, dragging out a weary and monotonous existence, far from each other, while he, possessed of superabundance, was debarred from helping them.

He advanced timidly to the sofa.  Alice, who had recovered consciousness, covered her face with both her hands, and sobbed aloud.  Jane turned towards him a glance, not of reproach, but of pity.  He felt it, and took her hand.

“Believe me, Miss Melville, no one can regret this extraordinary will as I do.  I will overturn it, if I possibly can.”