“Of what use is it?” he said; “the poor young fellows will find themselves out of it altogether. They will come thinking that the inheritance is theirs, and there is not a penny for them. Why did not you wait till I came?”
“I should have preferred to do so,” said Langton; “but at such a moment Miss Chester’s wish was above all.”
“Miss Chester’s wish?” said the lawyer, with a doubtful glance. “Perhaps you think Miss Chester can do what she pleases? Poor thing, it is very natural she should wish to do something for her brothers. But what if she were making a mistake?”
“If you mean that after all the money is not to be hers”—said Langton, with a slight change of colour.
“Before we go farther I ought to know—perhaps her father’s death has brought about some change—between her and you?”
“No change at all. We were pledged to each other two years ago without any opposition from him. I cannot say that he ever gave his formal consent.”
“But it was all broken off—I heard as much from him—by mutual consent.”
“It was never broken off. I saw what was coming, and I remained perfectly quiet on the subject, and advised Miss Chester to do the same.”
“Ah! and he was taken in!” the lawyer said.
This brought the colour to Langton’s face.