Sleigh's
shoulder, and biting her pale lip, she cleared her voice and demanded--
'Doctor Bryerly, pray, sir, is the reading concluded?'
'Concluded? Quite. Yes, nothing more,' he answered with a nod, and
continued his talk with Mr. Danvers and Abel Grimston.
'And to whom,' said Lady Knollys, with an effort, 'will the property
belong, in case--in case my little cousin here should die before she comes
of age?'
'Eh? Well--wouldn't it go to the heir-at-law and next of kin?' said Doctor
Bryerly, turning to Abel Grimston.
'Ay--to be sure,' said the attorney, thoughtfully.
'And who is that?' pursued my cousin.
'Well, her uncle, Mr. Silas Ruthyn. He's both heir-at-law and next of kin,'
pursued Abel Grimston.
'Thank you,' said Lady Knollys.
Doctor Clay came forward, bowing very low, in his standing collar and
single-breasted coat, and graciously folded my hand in his soft wrinkled
grasp--
'Allow me, my dear Miss Ruthyn, while expressing my regret that we are to
lose you from among our little flock--though I trust but for a short,
a very short time--to say how I rejoice at the particular arrangement
indicated by the will we have just heard read.
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