"Most certainly I never shall."

"Then you will take my advice, and forgive my intruding upon you a
little more of it?"

"Forgive? I am thankful, my good old friend, for every wise word you
say to me."

Again the good lawyer hesitated: "There is a subject, one exceedingly
difficult to speak of, but it should be named, since you might not think
of it yourself. Lord Cairnforth, the only way in which you can secure
your property against these Bruces is by at once making your will."

"Making my will!" replied the earl, looking as if the new
responsibilities opening upon him were almost bewildering.

"Every man who has any thing to leave ought to make a will as soon as
ever he comes of age. Vainly I urged this upon your father."

"My poor father! That he should die--so young and strong--and I
should live--how strange it seems! You think, then--perhaps Dr.
Hamilton also thinks--that my life is precarious?"

"I can not tell; my dear lord, how could any man possibly tell?"

"Well, it will not make me die one day sooner or later to have made my
will: as you say, every man ought to do it; I ought especially, for my
life is more doubtful than most people's, and it is a solemn charge to
posses so large a fortune as mine."