Chichester.
"Until we can look around," agreed Alaric.
"Something may be saved from the wreck," reasoned Mrs. Chichester
more hopefully.
"Until _I_ get really started," said Alaric with a sense of climax.
Mrs. Chichester turned to her daughter: "Ethel?"
"Whatever you decide, mamma."
Mrs. Chichester thought a moment--then decided "I'll do it," she
said determinedly. "It will be hard, but I'll do it." She went
slowly and deliberately to Mr. Hawkes, who by this time had disposed
of all his documents and was preparing to go. A look in Mrs.
Chichester's face stopped him. He smiled at her. "Well?" he asked.
"For the sake of the memory of my dead sister, I will do as
Nathaniel wished," said Mrs. Chichester with great dignity and self-
abnegation.
Mr. Hawkes breathed a sigh of relief.
"Good!" he said. "I'm delighted. It is splendid. Now that you have
decided so happily there is one thing more I must tell you. The
young lady is not to be told the conditions of the will, unless at
the discretion of the executors should, some crisis arise. She will
be to all intents and purposes--your GUEST. In that way we may be
able to arrive at a more exact knowledge of her character. Is that
understood?"
The family signified severally and collectively that it was.
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