"Are you so very certain of this, ingrate?--Did not Mr. John Effingham--cousin Jack--adopt you as his son even before he knew of the natural tie that actually exists between you?"
"True, for I perceive that you have been made acquainted with most of that which has passed. But I hope, that in telling you his own offer, Mr.--that my father did not forget to tell you of the terms on which it was accepted?"
"He did you ample justice, or he informed me that you stipulated there should be no altering of wills, but that the unworthy heir already chosen, should still remain the heir."
"And to this Mr--"
"Cousin Jack," said Eve, laughing, for the laugh comes easy to the supremely happy.
"To this cousin Jack assented?"
"Most true, again. The will would not have been altered, for your interests were already cared for."
"And at the expense of yours, dearest? Eve!"
"It would have been at the expense of my better feelings, Paul, had it not been so. However, that will can never do either harm or good to any, now."
"I trust it will remain unchanged, beloved, that I may owe as much to you as possible."