"It's a hard thing for a man of my age to leave everything behind him;
but I don't see that I could have done better."
"You have done that, my dear sir, which might afford comfort to any
death-bed," said the lawyer solemnly.
He folded the will, and put it into his pocket.
"Our friend desires me to take charge of this document," he said to
William Carley. "You will have no reason to complain, on your daughter's
account, when you become familiar with its contents. She has been fairly
treated--I may say very fairly treated."
The bailiff did not much relish the tone of this assurance. Fair
treatment might mean very little.
"I hope she has been well treated," he answered in a surly manner. "She's
been a good wife to Stephen Whitelaw, and would continue so to be if he
was to live twenty years longer. When a pretty young woman marries a man
twice her age, she's a right to expect handsome treatment, Mr. Pivott. It
can't be too handsome for justice, in my opinion."
The solicitor gave a little gentle sigh.
"As an interested party, Mr. Carley," he said, "your opinion is not as
valuable as it might be under other circumstances. However, I don't think
your daughter will complain, and I am sure the world will applaud what
our poor friend has done--of his own accord, mind, Mr.
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