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Just across
the room, by an open window, sat Lady Jane, pretending to rearrange a
bowl of roses on the table near her, but listening intently to the
conversation between the two brothers.
"I don't know what will become of Archie," the sick man said, speaking
very slowly. "I shall leave him nothing but Stoneleigh, with a mortgage
on it for four hundred pounds, and a little annuity which came through
his mother. Strange, that from dear little Dora, who, when I married
her, had nothing but her sweet voice and sweeter face, the boy should
inherit all the ready money he can ever have, unless you or our sister
Betsey open your hearts to him. You used to fancy the boy, and talked
once of adopting him, when I had that fever at Pau, and you came to see
me."
Here Lady Jane's long neck arched itself more proudly, and John felt how
intently she was awaiting his reply.
"Yes, Hugh," he said, "I like the boy. He is bright and intelligent; and
I did think of adopting him once, but that was before Neil came.


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