Roger Ingleton, Minor | Page 9

of a man who feels himself master
of the situation, began to make a little speech.
There was first a little condescending preamble concerning the virtues
of the deceased, which every one but Roger listened to respectfully.
The son felt it as much as he could put up with to sit still and hear it,
and began to fidget ominously, and greatly to the disturbance of the
speaker. When Mr Pottinger, after a few reproachful pauses, left this
topic and began to discourse on his own relations with the late Squire,
it was the turn of Dr Brandram to become restless.
"This is not the occasion for dwelling on the gratification I received
from--"
Here the doctor deliberately rose and walked across the room for a
footstool, which, as deliberately, he walked back with and laid at the
feet of Mrs Ingleton. "Beg pardon--go on," said he, meeting the
astonished eye of the attorney.
"The gratification I received from the kind expressions--"
Here a large coal inconsiderately fell out of the fire with a loud clamour.
Raffles, with considerable commotion, came from his seat and
proceeded to restore it to its lost estate.
Mr Pottinger took his glasses from his nose and regarded the

performance with such abject distress, that Roger, catching sight of his
face, involuntarily smiled. "Really," exclaimed the now thoroughly
offended friend of the family, "really, my boy, on an occasion such as
this--"
Here the Rector, to every one's relief, came gallantly to the rescue.
"This is very tedious, Mr Pottinger," said he. "The friends here, I am
sure, will prefer that you should omit all these useless preliminaries,
and come to the business at once. Let me read the document for you;
my eyes are younger than yours."
At this terrific act of insubordination, and the almost blasphemous
suggestion which capped it, the lawyer fell back in his chair and broke
out into a profuse perspiration, gazing at the Rector as he would at
some suddenly intruding wild animal. Then, with a gasp, taking in the
peril of the whole situation, he hastily took up the will and plunged into
it.
It was a long, tedious document, hard to understand; and when it was
ended, no one exactly grasped its purport.
Then came the moment of Mr Pottinger's revenge. The party was at his
mercy after all.
"What does it all amount to?" said the doctor, interpreting the
perplexed looks of the company.
"I had better perhaps explain it in simple words," said the attorney
condescendingly, "if you will give me your attention."
You might have heard a pin drop now.
"Briefly, the provisions of our dear friend's will are these. Proper
provision is made for the support in comfort of the widow during her
life. Legacies are also left, as you have heard, to certain friends,
servants, and charities. The whole of the remaining property, which it is
my impression will be found to be very considerable, is left in trust for
the testator's only son, Roger, our young friend here, who is to receive

it absolutely on reaching the age of twenty-one. The conditions of the
trust are a trifle peculiar. There are three trustees, who are also
guardians of the heir. The first is Mrs Ingleton, the widow; the second
is Edward Oliphant, Esquire, of Her Majesty's Indian Army, second
cousin, I understand, of Mrs Ingleton, and, in the event (which I trust is
not likely) of the death of our young friend here, heir-presumptive to
the property. His trusteeship is dependent on his coming to this country
and assuming the duties of guardian to the heir, and provision is made
accordingly. The third trustee and guardian is Mr Frank Armstrong,
who is entitled to act so long as he holds his present post of tutor to the
heir, which post he will retain only during Mrs Ingleton's pleasure. It is
also provided that, in the event of any difference of opinion among the
trustees, Mrs Ingleton (as is most proper) shall be permitted to decide;
and lastly--a curious eccentricity on our dear friend's part, which was
perhaps hardly necessary to insert--in the event of Roger Ingleton,
previous to his attaining his majority, becoming a felon, a lunatic, or
marrying, he is to be regarded as dead, and the property thereby passes
to the next heir, Captain Oliphant. I think we may congratulate
ourselves on what is really a very simple will, and which, provided the
trustees named consent to act, presents very little difficulty. I have
telegraphed already to Captain Oliphant. Mr Armstrong, will you do
me the favour, at your convenience, of intimating to me your consent or
otherwise?"
Mr Armstrong made no response. It was indeed doubtful whether he
had heard the question. For at that precise moment, gazing about him