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CXII
osiah Graves in his masterful way made arrangements,
Jbecoming but economical, for the funeral; and when it
was over came back to the vicarage with Philip. The will was
in his charge, and with a due sense of the fitness of things he
read it to Philip over an early cup of tea. It was written on
half a sheet of paper and left everything Mr. Carey had to
his nephew. There was the furniture, about eighty pounds
at the bank, twenty shares in the A. B. C. company, a few in
Allsop’s brewery, some in the Oxford music-hall, and a few
more in a London restaurant. They had been bought under
Mr. Graves’ direction, and he told Philip with satisfaction:
‘You see, people must eat, they will drink, and they want
amusement. You’re always safe if you put your money in
what the public thinks necessities.’
His words showed a nice discrimination between the
grossness of the vulgar, which he deplored but accepted,
and the finer taste of the elect. Altogether in investments
there was about five hundred pounds; and to that must be
added the balance at the bank and what the furniture would
fetch. It was riches to Philip. He was not happy but infinitely
relieved.
Mr. Graves left him, after they had discussed the auction
which must be held as soon as possible, and Philip sat him-
self down to go through the papers of the deceased. The Rev.
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