Janet began afresh:
"Father was talking of making a new will two or three months ago. He mentioned it to Tom. He said he should like you to be one of the executors. He said he would sooner have you for an executor than anybody."
An intense satisfaction permeated Edwin, that he should have been desired as an executor by such an important man as Osmond Orgreave. He felt as though he were receiving compensation for uncounted detractions.
"Really?" said he. "I expect Tom will take out letters of administration, or Tom and Johnnie together; they'll make better executors than I should."
"It doesn't seem to make much difference who looks after it and who doesn't," Hilda sharply interrupted. "When there's nothing to look after."
"Nothing to look after?" Edwin repeated.
"Nothing to look after!" said Hilda in a firm and clear tone. "According to what Janet says."
"But surely there must be something!"
Janet answered mildly:
"I'm afraid there isn't much."