 that grandfather
couldn't get back his trust in me. Oh, it is too hard! When did he destroy his
will? When, father?«
    »Ten days before his death.«
    »Yes; that was when it happened. Yon never heard; he promised to tell
nobody. I disappointed him. I showed myself very foolish and weak in - in
something that happened then. I made grandfather think that I was too selfish to
live as he hoped - that I couldn't do what I'd undertaken. That was why he
destroyed his will. And I thought he had forgiven me! I thought he trusted me
again! O grandfather!«
    Snowdon was astonished at the explanation of his own good luck, and yet more
at Jane's display of feeling. So quiet, so reserved as he had always known her,
she seemed to have become another person. For some moments he could only gaze at
her in wonder. Never yet had he heard, never again would he hear, the utterance
of an emotion so profound and so noble.
    »Jane - try and control yourself, my dear. Let's talk it over, Jane.«
    »I feel as if it would break my heart. I thought I had that one thing to
comfort me. It's like losing him again - losing his confidence. To think I
should have disappointed him in just what he hoped more than anything!«
    »But you're mistaken,« Joseph exclaimed, a generous feeling for once getting
the better of prudence. »Listen, my dear, and I'll explain to you. I hadn't
finished when you interrupted me.«
    She clasped her hands upon her lap and gazed at him in eager appeal.
    »Did he say anything to you, father?«
    »No - and you may be quite sure that if he hadn't trusted you, he would have
said something. What's more, on the very day before his death he wrote a letter
to Mr. Percival, to say that he wanted to make his will again. He was going to
do it on the Monday - there now! It was only an accident; he hadn't time to do
what he wished.«
    This was making a concession which he had expressly resolved to guard
against; but Joseph's designs ripened, lost their crudity, as he saw more and
more of his daughter's disposition. He was again grateful to her; she had made
things smoother than he could have hoped.
    »You really
