"Why so?"
"If he were to die without a will, any land,—houses and that kind of property,—would go to Everett. I never knew a man who told his children so little. I want to make you understand these things. You and I will be badly off if he doesn't do something for us."
"You don't think he is really ill?"
"No;—not ill. Men above seventy are apt to die, you know."
"Oh, Ferdinand,—what a way to talk of it!"
"Well, my love, the thing is so seriously matter-of-fact, that it is better to look at it in a matter-of-fact way. I don't want your father to die."
"I hope not. I hope not."
"But I should be very glad to learn what he means to do while he lives. I want to get you into sympathy with me in this matter;—but it is so difficult."
"Indeed I sympathise with you."
"The truth is he has taken an aversion to Everett."