‘The next morning I met Mr. Bullock by appointment to talk a little about the legacy which was paid into his hands. As I was leaving his office, feeling full of my riches, I met Miss Horsman. She smiled rather grimly, and said:

‘“Oh, Mr. Harrison, I must congratulate you, I believe. I don’t know whether I ought to have known, but as I do, I must wish you joy. A very nice little sum, too. I always said you would have money.”

‘So she had found out my legacy, had she? Well, it was no secret, and one likes the reputation of being a person of property. Accordingly I smiled, and said I was much obliged to her; and, if I could alter the figures to my liking, she might congratulate me still more.

‘She said, “Oh, Mr. Harrison, you can’t have everything. It would be better the other way, certainly. Money is the great thing, as you’ve found out. The relation died most opportunely, I must say.”

‘“He was no relative,” said I; “only an intimate friend.”

‘“Dear-ah-me! I thought it bad been a brother! Well, at any rate, the legacy is safe.”

‘I wished her good morning, and passed on. Before long I was sent for to Miss Tomkinson’s .

‘Miss Tomkinson sat in severe state to receive me. I went in with an air of ease, because I always felt so uncomfortable.

‘“Is this true that I bear?” asked she, in an inquisitorial manner.

‘I thought she alluded to my five hundred pounds; so I smiled, and said that I believed it was.

‘“Can money be so great an object with you, Mr. Harrison?” she asked again.

‘“I said I had never cared much for money, except as an assistance to any plan of settling in life; and then, as I did not like her severe way of treating the subject, I said that I hoped every one was well; though of course I expected some one was ill, or I should not have been sent for.

‘Miss Tomkinson looked very grave and sad. Then she answered: “Caroline is very poorly — the old palpitations at the heart; but of course that is nothing to you.”.

‘I said I was sorry. She had a weakness there, I knew. Could I see her? I might be able to order something for her.

‘I though............