Page:Lady Anne Granard 3.pdf/300

298 was with them, Mrs. Palmer advised Helen to open Lady Anne's writing-desk, as she thought it probable that certain directions might be found there likely to be of use. When Lady Anne gave her the casket, she had intimated as much; beyond that she did not expect any thing in the form of a will, seeing that Mr. Granard had left the property on which she lived to be equally divided amongst her daughters. Accordingly, they did find, in her own handwriting, directions which ran thus:— "If I should die, bury me in the new cemetery, and get Mr. Palmer to choose the proper place; being the first woman of rank that is laid there, I expect he will be able to get the vault cheap, as my funeral will get into the newspapers, and cause many others to be buried there." To a hundred pound bank-note was attached a slip of paper, saying—

"This is to buy Count Riccardini another horse, and to beg his pardon sincerely for all the foolish things I said of him formerly. He is a good man—continue to love him." These "symptoms of honesty," as Mr. Palmer called them, were exceedingly grateful to the hearts