After supper, the brother and sister sat down before the fire, for the talk to which Miss Jemima had been looking forward all day long.
“Well, brother,” she queried, “I suppose you’ve heard all about it?”
“Yes, in a general way.”
“And what is the amount?”
“I’m almost afraid to say. The gentlemen said little short of a million!”
Miss Jemima threw up her hands with a little jerk of wonder, and gazed at her brother with incredulous surprise.
“Where is it all?” was her next enquiry.
“Some in England, and some in America.”
“It’s not all in money, of course?” she asked, in doubtful tones.
“No,” said her brother, opening his eyes: “it’s in all sorts of ways. A great deal of it is in house property. There’s one whole village—or nearly so.”