244 O'er Crag and Torrent 



In reply to my feverish inquiries, the 

 servant stated that the telegram had been 

 delivered half an hour after I had started 

 for Wales more than a week had therefore 

 elapsed since its arrival. I was in the act 

 of sending a wire to inform my relatives 

 that I had been away on urgent and import- 

 ant business when the post arrived, and a 

 letter was handed to me. It was from my 

 uncle, and was short and to the point, for 

 after tersely upbraiding me for my disrespect 

 and brutal want of affection, he added: "The 

 property and money which would have been 

 yours if you had acted in a more affectionate 

 and better spirit will now go elsewhere, for 

 not one shilling shall you have of mine. I 

 have struck your name out of my will, so 

 the property will go to a distant cousin, and 

 my money shall go to the County Lunatic 

 Asylum." And " Sceptre " ah ! the very 

 thought is harrowing, so I will drop a veil over 



