"Oh, don't ask me," she moaned. "I know what you would say. Do as you think best."
"Then I will arrange it?"
She bent her head in answer.
"I should have gone away," she said as she rose and walked across the room. "You were right. I should never have stayed, never, never!"
"Don't think me cruel, Jess," he said; "but there is something more I must tell you. Have you heard about Mr. Dudgeon?"
She nodded.
"Oh, yes," she answered. "Poor old man. He was here yesterday. He——"
"He came to the bank," he said, as she was silent. "He left something in my charge, Jess, and made me promise you should have it at once if anything happened to him. It was his will. He has left everything to you."
She turned quickly.
"Fred—Fred——" she gasped as she held out her hands and groped in the air.