“It is as I supposed,” said George. His voice was very unpleasant, and so was the fire of his eyes and the ghastly rage of his scarred face. “The old man has endeavoured in his anger to rob me of everything because I would not obey him in his wickedness when I was here with him a short while before he died. Such a will as that can stand nowhere.”
“As to that I have nothing to say at present,” said the attorney.
“Where is his other will—the one he made before that?”
“If I remember rightly we executed two before this.”
“And where are they?”
“It is not my business to know, Mr. Vavasor. I believe that I saw him destroy one, but I have no absolute knowledge. As to the other, I can say nothing.”
“And what do you mean to do?” said George, turning to his uncle.
“Do! I shall carry out the will. I have no alternative. Your sister is the person chiefly interested under it. She gets five hundred a year for her life; and if she marries and you don’t, or if she has a son and you don’t, her son will have the whole property.”
George stood for a few moments thinking. Might it not be possible that by means of Alice and Kate together—by marrying the former—perhaps, he might still obtain possession of the property? But that which he wanted was the command of the property at once—the power of raising money upon it instantly. The will had been so framed as to make that impossible in any way. Kate’s share in it had not been left to her unconditionally, but was to be received even by her through the hands of her uncle John. Such a will shut him out from all his hopes. “It is a piece of d⸺ roguery,” he said.
“What do you mean by that, sir?” said Gogram, turning round towards him.
“I mean exactly what I say. It is a piece of d⸺ roguery. Who was in the room when that thing was written?”
“The signature was witnessed by—”
“I don’t ask as to the signature. Who was in the room when the thing was written?”
“I was here with your grandfather.”
“And no one else?”
“No one else. The presence of anyone else at such a time would be very unusual.”
“Then I regard the document simply as waste paper.” After saying this, George Vavasor left the room, and slammed the door after him.
“I never was insulted in such a way before,” said the attorney, almost with tears in his eyes.
“He is a disappointed and I fear a ruined man,” said John Vavasor. “I do not think you need regard what he says.”
“But he should not on that account insult me. I have only done my duty. I did not even advise his grandfather. It is mean on his part and unmanly. If he comes in my way again I shall tell him so.”
“He probably will not put himself in your way again, Mr. Gogram.”
Then the attorney went, having suggested to Mr. Vavasor that he should instruct his attorney in London to take steps in reference to the proving of the will. “It’s as good a will as ever was made,” said Mr. Gogram. “If he can set that aside, I’ll give up making wills altogether.”
Who was to tell Kate? That was John Vavasor’s first thought when he was left alone at the hall-door, after seeing the lawyer start away. And how was he to get himself back to London without further quarrelling with his nephew? And what was he to do at once with reference to the immediate duties of proprietorship which were entailed upon him as executor? It was by no means improbable, as he thought, that George might assume to himself the position of master of the house; that he might demand the keys, for instance, which no doubt were in Kate’s hands at present, and that he would take possession with violence. What should he do under such circumstances? It was clear that he could not run away and get back to his club by the night mail train. He had duties there at the Hall, and these duties were of a nature to make him almost regret the position in which his father’s will had placed him. Eventually he would gain some considerable increase to his means, but the immediate effect would be terribly troublesome. As he looked up at the melancholy pines which were slowly waving their heads in the wind before the door he declared to himself that he would sell his inheritance and his executorship very cheaply, if such a sale were possible.
In the dining-room he found his sister alone. “Well, John,” said she; “well? How is it left?”
“Where is Kate?” he asked.
“She has gone out with her brother.”
“Did he take his hat?”
“Oh, yes. He asked her to walk, and she went with him at once.”
“Then, I suppose, he will tell her,” said John Vavasor. After that he explained the circumstances of the will to Mrs. Greenow. “Bravo,” exclaimed the widow. “I’m delighted. I love Kate dearly: and now she can marry almost whom she pleases.”
LVI
Another Walk on the Fells
George when he left the room in which he had insulted the lawyer, went immediately across to the parlour in which his aunt and sister were sitting. “Kate,” said he, “put on your hat and come and walk with me. That business is
