lightness of tone, turned to Allan with an equally marked seriousness.

"Old chap, you know about that money of mine--of Grandfather's?"

Allan instantly became attentive.

"Of course, there's no hurry about that--you must take time to think it
over," he answered.

"But there _is_ hurry! I shouldn't have waited so long to make up my
mind.

"Then you _have_ made up your mind?" questioned his brother, with
guarded eagerness.

"Definitely. It's all yours, Allan. It will help you in what you want to
do. And not having it will help me to do what I want to do--make it
simpler, easier. Take it--and for God's sake be good to Nancy."

"I can't tell you how you please me, Bernal. Not that I'm avid for
money, but it truly seems more in accord with what must have been
grandfather's real wish. And Nancy--of course I shall be good to
her--though at times she seems unable to please me."

There was a sanctified displeasure in his tone, as he spoke of Nancy. It
caused Bernal to turn upon him a keen, speculative eye, but only for a
moment. And his next words had to do with matters tangible. "To-morrow
I'll do some of the business that can be done here. Then I'll go up to
Edom and finish the transfers that have to be made there." After a brief
hesitation, he added: "Try to please _her_ a bit, Allan. That's all."