“Hum-m-me! then, indeed, this ‘ill wind’ has blown a great inheritance to Magnus. I suppose that after his uncle has somewhat recovered the shock of his bereavement he will recall Magnus. He will scarcely permit him to pursue the study of medicine now.”
“I think that Magnus will prefer the study of some profession. I am sure that he wishes to live an earnest and useful life.”
“Well, I do not know a more earnest purpose, or a more useful life, than that lived through in the proper administration of a large estate. By the way, Alice, I hope you have not, with your usual indifference in all things and to all persons, neglected to write to the poor boy during his banishment among total strangers in Baltimore?”
“I write to him every week.”
“That is right; perfectly right. I am very glad to hear it. Apropos, Alice, were not Magnus and Elsie very great friends?”
“They were very much attached to each other,” replied Alice, with her innocent eyes still dilating with wonder at these queries.
“‘Very much attached to each other.’ Hum-m-me! Mount Calm and Hemlock Hollow would form one very magnificent estate, joining as they do—about ten thousand acres, would they not be?”
“Yes,” said Alice abstractedly.
“Yes, certainly, that is it. Let us see—how old is this youth?”
“About seventeen, I believe.”