"We came for advice," said Polly, "and I made bold to bring Nicholas. In fact, 'twas his idea that I should speak to you."
Mr. Baskerville was gratified, but his nature forbade him to show it.
"A new thing to come to Uncle Humphrey when you might go to Uncle Nathan," he said.
"'Tis just about Uncle Nathan is the difficulty," declared his niece. Then she turned to her husband. "You speak, Nick. You must know that Nick's rather slow of speech, and can't get his words always, but he's improving. Tell Uncle Humphrey how 'tis, Nick."
Mr. Bassett nodded, dried a damp brow with a red handkerchief, and spoke.
"'Tis like this here," he began. "Under Mr. Vivian Baskerville's will—him being my wife's father—she had five hundred pound."
"We all know that," said Rupert. "And May, too."
"Well, the law of the will was that the money should be handed over when the girls was wedded, or when they comed to the age of five-and-twenty. Therefore, surely it's clear as my wife ought to have her five hundred—eh?"
"Perfectly clear—on the day she married you," said Rupert. "I thought you'd got it, Polly."
"But I haven't. There's legal difficulties—so Uncle Nathan says; and he told Nicholas that there was a doubt in his mind whether—what was it, Nick?"