Mr. Meres raised his face.
“And so give much trouble,” he remarked, in a tone of suppressed agitation. “A state of things would follow equivalent to intestacy. Ten to one there would be law-suits. The property would be broken up.”
“Yes, I have thought of that,” Ada assented, looking up at the Madonna over the fireplace. “Still there would be a resource for such a person’s foolishness. There would be nothing to prevent him or her from giving it all away when once possessed of it.”
“Nothing in the world,” said Mr. Meres, scarcely above a whisper.
“Mr. Meres, will you help me to get that legally performed?”
He half rose, his hands trembling on the arms of his chair.
“Ada, you mean that?”
“Yes, I mean it.”
He caught her head between his hands, and kissed her several times on the forehead.
“That’s my brave girl!” was all he could say. Then he sat down again in the utmost perturbation. He was completely unnerved, and had to press his hands upon his brows to try and recover calm.