"A week is enough for the present," replied Marsh, "we came for two, did we not? I have got all the clothes, I need. They will be ready by the end of this week; then we can go back. You want to return?"
"Yes! I have an idea in my head. Later on I will tell it to you." Marsh turned to ask what Herrick meant but seeing that his friend was taken up with his own thoughts, he said nothing. After breakfast Jim left Marsh to look over the morning paper, and went out.
The first place he sought out was the lawyer's office. Mr. Frith the junior partner received him, all the more readily, when he heard the name. On the previous day, Stephen had been enthusiastic on the subject of his new friend. Frith junior took to Jim at once.
"I am glad to see you," he said pushing forward a chair, "Mr. Marsh-Carr told us all about you. I am glad he has had the good sense to select you as a companion. He needs shaking up."
"Marsh is a good fellow," replied Jim, "and anything I can do to make a man of him shall be done. But the material is there, Mr. Frith."
"Yes! But that step-mother of his did a great deal to ruin him. He could not call his soul his own. I do not think her death is much to be regretted," finished Frith with a dry smile.
"She was rather stormy, but I think she really loved her step-son. What are you smiling at?"
"I was recalling one or two interviews I had with the lady in question," said the young lawyer. "She was, as you say, stormy. Even the Colonel was afraid of her, so he sent her up to us."
"What did she come about?"
"An annuity for herself and an income for her son, the present owner of the estate. Colonel Carr refused to allow her one penny. He said that he had made his will in favour of Stephen Marsh, and that both he and Mrs. Marsh could wait until his death. I tried hard to persuade him to allow her something but he refused. Mrs. Marsh used to come up and make scenes in this office. Stormy!" chuckled Frith. "I should think she was."