“And do you mean to say,” pursued Mrs. Frederic, who could hardly keep still, so great was her excitement, “that the horrid lawyer is rummaging through the old man’s papers all alone?  You ought to be present, Mrs. Liddell.  You don’t know what tricks he may play.  He may put a will in his own favor in some drawer.  It is very weak not to have insisted on being present, and shows such indifference to our interests!”

“I am not afraid of Mr. Newton forging a will,” said Mrs. Liddell, smiling; “and I greatly fear that whoever may profit by the old man’s last testament, we will not.  But I assure you Mr. Newton did ask me to assist in the search, and I declined.  Indeed I asked him not to search while the poor remains were unburied.”

“Why, my goodness! you do not mean to say you are pretending to be sorry for this rude—­miser!” cried Mrs. Frederic, with uplifted hand and eyes.

“Personally I did not care about him, but, Ada, death demands respect.”

“Oh yes, of course.  Then there is absolutely nothing to do or to hear.”

“Nothing,” said Katherine, rather shortly.

“Could I go out and buy anything for you?  Surely the executors, whoever they may be, will give you some money for mourning?”

“I do not think it at all likely.  I will tell you what you can do, Ada:  go to my large cupboard and bring me,” etc., etc.—­sundry directions followed.  “Katherine and I can quite well do all that is necessary ourselves to make a proper appearance on Friday.”

“Very well; and I will come to the funeral too, and bring the boys.  A little crape on their caps and sleeves will be quite enough.  They will produce a great effect.  I dare say if I speak to Mrs. Burnett’s friend, that newspaper man, he will put an account into the Morning News, with all our names.  Whatever comes, it would have a good effect.”

“Of course you can come if you like, Ada, but I would not bring the boys.  Children are out of place except at a parent’s grave.”

“Well, I do not agree with you, and I do not think you need grudge my poor children that much recognition.”

“Poor darlings!  Do you believe we could grudge them anything that was good for them?” cried Katherine.

“Oh, there is no knowing!  Pray is there any plate in the house, Katherine, or diamonds?  You know the nephew’s wife ought to have the diamonds!”

“Do not make me laugh, Ada, while the poor man is lying dead!” exclaimed Katherine, smiling.  “The idea of plate or diamonds in this house is too funny!”

“Then are the spoons and forks only Sheffield ware?” asked her sister-in-law.  “How mean!”

After a good deal more cross-examination Mrs. Fred rose to depart, her pretty childish face clouded, not to say very cross.

“I might have saved myself the trouble of coming here,” she said.

“We are very glad to see you, and it will be a great help if you can send or bring the things I want.”