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throat？ Let us forgive and forget。 Or； perhaps； you object to my
having converted poor Romayne； and to my being ready to accept
from him the restoration of the property of the Church。 In both
cases I only did my duty as a priest。 You are a liberal…minded
man。 Surely I deserve a favorable construction of my conduct？〃
I really could not endure this。 〃I have my own opinion of what
you deserve；〃 I answered。 〃Don't provoke me to mention it。〃
He eyed me with a sinister smile。
〃I am not so old as I look；〃 he said； 〃I may live another twenty
years！〃
〃Well？〃 I asked。
〃Well；〃 he answered； 〃much may happen in twenty years！〃
With that he left me。 If he means any further mischief； I can
tell him thishe will find Me in his way。
To turn to a more pleasant subject。 Reflecting on all that had
passed at my memorable interview with Romayne； I felt some
surprise that one of the persons present had made no effort to
prevent the burning of the will。 It was not to be expected of
Stellaor of the doctors； who had no interest in the matterbut
I was unable to understand the passive position maintained by the
lawyer。 He enlightened my ignorance in two words。
〃The Vange property and the Berrick property were both absolutely
at the disposal of Mr。 Romayne；〃 he said。 〃If he died without
leaving a will； he knew enough of the law to foresee that houses；
lands； and money would go to his 'nearest of kin。' In plainer
words； his widow and his son。〃
When Penrose can travel； he accompanies me to Beaupark。 Stella
and her little son and Mrs。 Eyrecourt will be the only other
guests in my house。 Time must pass； and the boy will be older；
before I may remind Stella of Romayne's last wishes on that sad
morning when we two knelt on either side of him。 In the
meanwhile； it is almost happiness enough for me to look forward
to the day
NOTE。The next leaf of the Diary is missing。 By some accident； a
manuscript page has got into its place； bearing a later date； and
containing elaborate instructions for executing a design for a
wedding dress。 The handwriting has since been acknowledged as her
own； by no less a person thanMrs。 Eyrecourt。
End