Page:Elizabeth's Pretenders.djvu/117

104 "I don't think she is ungrateful, Shaw; but she is queer—decidedly queer. Women are queer, you know, sometimes—the fancies they take, and the tantrums they get into. Any way, I believe the best course to pursue in this case is—when I feel perfectly assured that she is safe, and in good hands—to leave her alone."

William Shaw wiped his brow and fidgeted in his chair. He was not quite sure what was the next objection that he ought to advance; he was sure he ought to advance some and the solicitor did not help him.

"It's all very fine to talk about leaving her alone; but what is she going to do about money? If I don't know where she is, how"

"She means to live for the next two years in retirement, for which the five hundred pounds placed annually to her credit is ample. When she comes of age we shall see what she is disposed to do. Long before that, I believe, she will think better of her foolish scheme. For the present she has her cheque-book, and will continue to draw her allowance as heretofore. The only precaution against her being swindled out of any large sum, which it is well we should take, is to warn the bank not to honour any cheque of hers beyond the balance on the income paid annually to her separate account. She is young, and generous, and ignorant of the world. She may also be credulous; I should not be surprised if she were. But, thus protected, she cannot come to much harm as regards money."

"And is everything to go on at Whiteburn—the farm and all that—just as before?"

"Of course. The estate will be managed exactly as heretobefore."