"Forgive me for interposing," said Mr. Inch, "but you have not exactly stated the true conditions of Mr. Morton's will."
"In what way?" asked my father.
"What Mr. Morton stated in his will was that he desired his daughter Ruth to marry the heir of the Trewinion estate, so that not only might the families be united, but the estates also be joined."
"Well, is not Roger the heir of the Trewinion lands?"
"Yes, but you mentioned just now the possibility of anything happening to your elder son, then, of course, your second son would take his place."
"Yes, yes. Of course, of course," said my father, wearily.
"Does Ruth know about her father's wish?" I asked.
"No, not yet," replied Mr. Inch, "he thought it best that it should be kept from her until she reached her twenty-first birthday, unless necessity arose for her being told. No such necessity has arisen, and hence she remains in ignorance of the arrangement that was made between her father and Mr. Trewinion."
"Everything else I have stated in my will," said my father, "and all things are arranged in due form. Roger, my boy, you will try and be true to the Trewinion's name?"
"God helping me, I will," I said, "but, father, have you anything to say about my mother?"