"'I give and bequeath to Mildred Dutton, daughter of Francis Dutton of the Royal Navy, the sum of three thousand guineas in the five per cent. stocks of this kingdom.' Will that do, Sir Wycherly?"
The old man looked at Mildred and smiled benevolently; for, at that moment, he felt he was placing the pure and lovely girl above the ordinary contingencies of her situation, by rendering her independent.
"Whose name shall we next insert, Sir Wycherly?" resumed the vice-admiral. "There must be many more of these guineas left."
"Gregory—and—James—children of my brother Thomas—Baron Wychecombe—five thousand guineas each," added the testator, making a great effort to express his meaning as clearly as possible.
He was understood; and, after a short consultation with the vice-admiral, Atwood wrote out the devise at length.
"'I give and bequeath to my nephews, Gregory and James Wychecombe, the reputed sons of my late brother, Thomas Wychecombe, one of the Barons of His Majesty's Exchequer, the sum of five thousand guineas, each, in the five per cent. funded debt of this kingdom.'"
"Do you approve of the devise, Sir Wycherly? if so, make the usual sign of assent?"
Sir Wycherly complied, as in all the previous cases of his approval.
"Whose name shall we next insert, in readiness for a legacy, Sir Wycherly?" asked the admiral.
Here was a long pause, the baronet evidently turning over in his mind, what he had done, and what yet remained to do.