Aunt Jane's funeral was extremely simple and quiet. The woman had made no friends during her long residence in the neighborhood, having isolated¹ herself at "the big house" and refused to communicate in any way with the families living near by. Therefore, although her death undoubtedly² aroused much interest and comment, no one cared to be present at the obsequies.  
So the minister came from Elmwood, and being unable to say much that was good or bad of "the woman who had departed from this vale of tears," he confined his remarks to generalities and made them as brief as possible. Then the body was borne to the little graveyard³ a mile away, followed by the state carriage, containing the three nieces and Kenneth; the drag with Silas Watson and Uncle John, the former driving; and then came the Elmhurst carryall with the servants. James did not join these last; nor did he appear at the house after that dreadful scene in the garden. He had a little room over the tool-house, which Jane Merrick had had prepared for him years ago, and here he locked himself in day and night, stealthily emerging but to secure the food Susan carried and placed before his door.
 
No one minded James much, for all the inmates⁴ of Elhurst were under severe and exciting strain in the days preceding the funeral.
 
The girls wept a little, but it was more on account of the solemnity following the shadow of death than for any great affection they bore their aunt. Patsy, indeed, tried to deliver a tribute to Aunt Jane's memory; but it was not an emphatic⁵ success.
 
"I'm sure she had a good heart," said the girl, "and if she had lived more with her own family and cultivated her friends she would have been much less hard and selfish. At the last, you know, she was quite gentle."
 
"I hadn't noticed it," remarked Beth.
 
"Oh, I did. And she made a new will, after that awful one she told us of, and tried to be just and fair to all"
 
"I'm glad to hear that" said Louise. "Tell us, Patsy, what does the will say? You must know all about it."
 
"Mr. Watson is going to read it, after the funeral," replied the girl, "and then you will know as much about it as I do. I mustn't tell secrets, my dear."
 
So Louise and Beth waited in much nervous excitement for the final realization⁶ of their hopes or fears, and during the drive to the cemetery⁷ there was little conversation in the state carriage. Kenneth's sensitive nature was greatly affected⁸ by the death of the woman who had played so important a part in the brief story of his life, and the awe⁹ it inspired rendered him gloomy and silent. Lawyer Watson had once warned him that Miss Merrick's death might make him an outcast, and he felt the insecurity of his present position.
 
But Patsy, believing he would soon know of his good fortune, watched him curiously¹⁰ during the ride, and beamed upon him as frequently as her own low spirits would permit.
 
"You know, Ken," she reminded him, "that whatever happens we are always to remain friends."
 
"Of course," replied the boy, briefly¹¹.
 
The girl had thrown aside her crutches¹², by this time, and planned to return to her work immediately after the funeral.
 
The brief services at the cemetery being concluded, the little cavalcade¹³ returned to Elmhurst, where luncheon¹⁴ was awaiting them.
 
Then Mr. Watson brought into the drawing room the tin box containing the important Elmhurst papers in his possession, and having requested all present to be seated he said:
 
"In order to clear up the uncertainty¹⁵ that at present exists concerning Miss Merrick's last will and testament¹⁶, I will now proceed to read to you the document, which will afterward¹⁷ be properly probated according to law."
 
There was no need to request their attention. An intense stillness pervaded¹⁸ the room.
 
The lawyer calmly unlocked the tin box and drew out the sealed yellow envelope which Miss Merrick had recently given him. Patsy's heart was beating with eager expectancy¹⁹. She watched the lawyer break the seal, draw out the paper and then turn red and angry. He hesitated a moment, and then thrust the useless document into its enclosure and cast it aside.
 
"Is anything wrong?" asked the girl in a low whisper, which was yet distinctly heard by all.
 
Mr. Watson seemed amazed. Jane Merrick's deceitful trickery, discovered so soon after her death, was almost horrible for him to contemplate²⁰. He had borne much from this erratic²¹ woman, but had never believed her capable of such an act.
 
So he said, in irritable²² tones:
 
"Miss Merrick gave me this document a few days ago, leading me to believe it was her last will. I had prepared it under her instruction and understood that it was properly signed. But she ha............