Uncle John and Mr. Watson did not appear at dinner, being closeted in the former's room. This meal, however, was no longer a state function, being served by the old servants as a mere¹ matter of routine. Indeed, the arrangements of the household had been considerably² changed by the death of its mistress, and without any real head to direct them the servants were patiently awaiting the advent³ of a new master or mistress. It did not seem clear to them yet whether Miss Patricia or Lawyer Watson was to take charge of Elmhurst: but there were few tears shed for Jane Merrick, and the new regime could not fail to be an improvement over the last.  
At dinner the young folks chatted together in a friendly and eager manner concerning the events of the day. They knew of old James' unfortunate end, but being unaware⁴ of its import gave it but passing attention. The main subject of conversation was Aunt Jane's surprising act in annulling⁵ her last will and forcing Patricia to accept the inheritance when she did not want it. Kenneth, being at his ease when alone with the three cousins, protested that it would not be right for Patsy to give him all the estate. But, as she was so generous, he would accept enough of his Uncle Tom's money to educate him as an artist and provide for himself an humble⁶ home. Louise and Beth, having at last full knowledge of their cousin's desire to increase their bequests⁷, were openly very grateful for her good will; although secretly they could not fail to resent Patsy's choice of the boy as the proper heir of his uncle's fortune. The balance of power seemed to be in Patricia's hands, however; so it would be folly⁸ at this juncture⁹ to offend her.
 
Altogether, they were all better provided for than they had feared would be the case; so the little party spent a pleasant evening and separated early, Beth and Louise to go to their rooms and canvass¹⁰ quietly the events of the day, and the boy to take a long stroll through the country lanes to cool his bewildered brain. Patsy wrote a long letter to the major, telling him she would be home in three days, and then she went to bed and slept peacefully.
 
After breakfast they were all again summoned to the drawing-room, to their great surprise. Lawyer Watson and Uncle John were there, looking as grave as the important occasion demanded, and the former at once proceeded to relate the scene in James' room, his story of the death of Thomas Bradley, and the subsequent finding of the will.
 
"This will, which has just been recovered," continued the lawyer, impressively, "was made subsequent to the one under which Jane Merrick inherited, and therefore supercedes it. Miss Jane had, as you perceive, a perfect right to the use of the estate during her lifetime, but no right whatever to will a penny of it to anyone. Mr. Bradley having provided for that most fully¹¹. For this reason the will I read to you yesterday is of no effect, and Kenneth Forbes inherits from his uncle, through his mother, all of the estate."
 
Blank looks followed Mr. Watson's statement.
 
"Good-by to my five thousand," said Uncle John, with his chuckling¹² laugh. "But I'm much obliged to Jane, nevertheless."
 
"Don't we get anything at all?" asked Beth, with quivering lip.
 
"No, my dear," answered the lawyer, gently. "Your aunt owned nothing to give you."
 
Patsy laughed. She felt wonderfully relieved.
 
"Wasn't I the grand lady, though, with all the fortune I never had?" she cried merrily. "But 'twas really fine to be rich for a day, and toss the money around as if I didn't have to dress ten heads of hair in ten hours to earn my bread and butter."
 
Louise smiled.
 
"It was all a great farce," she said. "I shall take the afternoon train to the city. What an old fraud our dear Aunt Jane was! And how foolish of me to return her hundred dollar check."
 
"I used mine," said Beth, bitterly. "It's all I'll ever get, it seems." And then the thought of the Professor and his debts overcame her and she burst, into tears.
 
The boy sat doubled within his chair, so overcome by the extraordinary fortune that had overtaken him that he could not speak, nor think even clearly as yet.
 
Patsy tried to comfort Beth.
 
"Never mind, dear," said she. "We're no worse off than before we came, are we? And we've had a nice vacation. Let's forget all disappointments and be grateful to Aunt Jane's memory. As far as she knew, she tried to be good to us."
 
"I'm going home today," said Beth, angrily drying her eyes.
 
"We'll all go home," said Patsy, cheerfully.
 
"For my part," remarked Uncle John, in a grave voice, "I have no home."
 
Patsy ran up and put her arm around his neck.
 
"Poor Uncle John!" she cried. "Why, you're worse off than any............