"Not materially. I suppose it to be merely a question of weeks with her; but I do not know that she is worse to-day than yesterday. The news is from abroad. Sir Theodore is dead!"
"You don't say so! Dear me!" Madame Collier adjusted the big white skewer in her shawl, thereby showing that her feelings were not deeply stirred. "Dear, how unfortunate! But I never liked the accounts of his state."
"General Villiers arrived yesterday, bringing the boy."
"Well—!" in a tone of consent to what could not be helped. "I suppose the General will be the children's guardian."
"No. That is the strange part of the matter—General Villiers is one of the trustees. Miss Devereux is sole guardian—"
Madame Collier's eyes grew round. She set her gooseberry basket down and held up two hands, as if speech failed her.
"Sole guardian to both children. I believe her brother expressed a wish, when dying, that she would appeal to General Villiers for advice."
"She will need advice from somebody! Of all incompetent women—! Well—! I should as soon have expected—!"
"Sir Theodore has always been fond of his sister. He used to say there was plenty of natural capacity, if only it had opportunity to develop."
"Too late now! When a woman is going on for fifty, she can't be remade."