“Dividing her property equally between you and Lucy, I dare say, to Miss Merton's great dissatisfaction.”
“Why, not just so, Miles—not exactly so; a very capricious, peculiar woman was Mrs. Bradfort—”
I have often remarked, when a person has succeeded in throwing dust into another's eyes, but is discarded on being found out, that the rejected of principle is very apt to accuse his former dupe of being capricious; when, in fact, he has only been deceived. As I said nothing, however, leaving Rupert to flounder on in the best manner he could, the latter, after a pause, proceeded—
“But her end was very admirable” he said, “and to the last degree edifying. You must know, she made a will, and in that will she left everything, even to the town and country houses, to—my sister.”
I was thunder-struck! Here were all my hopes blown again to the winds. After a long pause, I resumed the discourse.
“And whom did she leave as executor?” I asked, instantly foreseeing the consequences should that office be devolved on Rupert, himself.
“My father. The old gentleman has had his hands full, between your father and mother, and Mrs. Bradfort. Fortunately, the estate of the last is in a good condition, and is easily managed. Almost entirely in stores and houses in the best part of the town, well insured, a few thousands in stocks, and as much in bonds and mortgages, the savings from the income, and something like a year's rents in bank. A good seven thousand a year, with enough surplus to pay for repairs, collection and other charges.”
“And all this, then, is Lucy's!” I exclaimed, feeling something like the bitterness of knowing that such an heiress was not for me.
“Temporarily; though, of course, I consider Lucy as only my trustee for half of it. You know how it is with the women; they fancy all us young men spendthrifts, and, so, between the two, they have reasoned in this way—'Rupert is a good fellow at bottom; but Rupert is young, and he will make the money fly—now, I'll give it all to you, Lucy, in my will, but, of course, you'll take care of your brother, and let him have half, or perhaps two-thirds, being a male, at the proper time, which will be, as soon as you come of age, and can convey. You understand Lucy is but nineteen, and cannot convey these two years.”
“And Lucy admits this to be true?—You have proof of all this?”