"But my wife could. Whose business is it what she does with her money?"
"With your money, you mean."
"Nay, with hers, when I give it her with all my heart."
"Well, you astonish me," said Kate, thoughtfully. "Tell me, now, who put it into your head to bribe a poor girl in this abominable way?"
"Who put it in my head?" said Griffith, looking rather puzzled; "why, I suppose my heart put it in my head."
Kate smiled very sweetly at this answer, and a wild hope thrilled through Griffith that perhaps she might be brought to terms.
But at this crisis the lawyer from London was announced, and Griffith, as master of the house, was obliged to seat the company. He looked bitterly disappointed at the interruption, but put a good face on it, and had more chairs in, and saw them all seated, beginning with Kate and the other ladies.
The room was spacious, and the entire company sat in the form of a horse-shoe.
The London solicitor was introduced by Griffith, and bowed in a short, business-like way, seated himself in the horse-shoe aforesaid, and began to read the will aloud.
It was a lengthy document, and there is nothing to be gained by repeating every line of it. I pick out a clause here and there.