“It might be just so much in favor of the heir,” remarked Mrs. Wallingford, “if two-thirds of the property had disappeared by the time he reached his majority; for, from all that I have heard of him, he is not likely to become a man fitted to use large wealth either to his own or any body else’s advantage.  He was low born and low bred, in the worst sense of the words; and I fear that no education will change his original quality, or greatly modify his early bias.  So while the wasting of his substance is a great wrong in the abstract, it may be a real blessing to him.  Events in this life work out strangely to our human eyes, yet there is a Providence in them that ever educes good from evil.”

“If we could always believe that,” said I, “how tranquilly might we pass through life!  How clearly would our eyes see through the darkest clouds, and rest upon the silver lining!”

“Is it not so?  Does not God’s providence follow us in the smallest things of our lives?  Do we take a step that falls outside of his cognizance?  We have only to look back, to be assured of this.  We may walk on tranquilly, Doctor, for, as sure as we live, no evil can befall us that does not have its origin within our own spirits.  All the machinations of our most bitter enemies will come to naught, if we keep our hearts free from guile.  They may rob us of our earthly possessions; but even this God will turn to our greater gain.”

Mrs. Wallingford spoke with a charming enthusiasm.

“With such a confidence,” said my wife, “one is richer than if he had the wealth of an Astor.”

“And with this great advantage,” replied Mrs. Wallingford, “that he may enjoy the whole of his possessions.  Moth and rust never corrupt them; and no man can take them away.”

“I have a new book from which I want to read you a sentiment,” said Constance, rising, and moving towards the secretary and book-case, which stood in the room.

Mrs. Wallingford rose and went with her.

“It is so beautifully accordant with many things I have heard you say,” added my wife, as she took down the volume, and commenced turning over its pages.

After reading a few sentences, and commenting upon them, some remark directed the attention of Mrs. Wallingford to the antiquated secretary, which was the one I had purchased when the furniture of the Allen house was sold.

“I have reason to remember this old secretary,” she said.  “It was here that the will was found which cut off our interest in the estate of my uncle.”

As she spoke in a pleasant way, she pulled out a drawer—­the very one which had suggested concealment, when I first got possession of the piece of furniture—­and said—­

“This is where the will lay concealed.”

And she pressed against the side firmly, when a portion of it yielded, and there sprung up another drawer, or receptacle, placed in vertically.

We were all very much interested in this curious arrangement.  The drawer could not be pulled out much beyond half its depth; the secret portion lying within this limit.