Page 134 - Fairbrass

jargon, but he could grasp enough to realise

that the two old executors had a legacy of
five hundred pounds apiece ; that with this

they were so perfectly satisfied that they
looked at their watches, and seemed to think

there was nothing left for them to do but to

catch their trains ; that the doctor was not
forgotten ; that the lawyer was suitably

remembered ; that there were considerate
bequests to most of the assembled servants,

and that those who were to receive them
displayed far more grief than those whose

names were omitted. Then came a long

and tiresome rigmarole in which it was set
forth that the great bulk of a noble estate

was to be divided amongst certain charitics.

No mention of the son’s name was made,
and Fairbrass looked anxiously into his

father's face to see how he would bear it.
Happily there was no anger there. It was

a calm, sad face—the face of a man who
recognised that he had made his own bed,

and was resignedly content to lie upon it.

He had expected nothing, and would