"Of course," said Lewis, "I'm sure she never thought of herself."
"Always was foolhardy--but coming down I was reading a letter from Staines, he's terribly upset. What do you think Toney did yesterday?"
"Yes, I forgot to say so--Staines said she insisted on making an immediate deed of gift to that confoun--well, that Stone House of hers of £30,000, and to think of all the time I wasted on that girl's money affairs! It's preposterous! I don't wonder Staines is nearly off his head!"
"A deed of gift of £30,000!" repeated Lewis turning towards Sir Evas with a flash of joy in his eyes.
"Yes, I thought you'd be as surprised as I am. Worse--Staines said he would tell me--out of the remainder, she's given my wife £2,000 principal and interest, and at her death it's to go on to your Cousin Maud."
"Yes, Toney's very fond of Maud, and--you know I expect she thought it would help you."
"Oh she told me not to let the cat out of the bag, but I never could keep a cat in anything. She heard you were engaged to Maud--keeping it quiet--much better--I wouldn't have mentioned it but for this money."
"Good heavens! What else--she won't have much left."
"Confound it all--the rest, I suppose, will build Stone House, only----" and Sir Evas chuckled,
"Staines has kept the coal mines as her share, and there's no knowing what they are worth, unless the seam fails--there'll be pickings, but only pickings. Such a fortune, a princely fortune. Stone couldn't have foreseen it."
"I believe he did, Sir Evas, I believe it was his fashion of dispensing charity."
"I don't know, he was a queer fish himself, gave lavishly in secret, but--it's really enough to turn Staines' hair white."
Here Lewis Waycott laughed aloud; Sir Evas looked at him a little reproachfully.
"Forgive me, Sir Evas--I do--but what made Toney say that about Maud? What an absurd idea! I'm awfully fond of Maud--I think I told Toney so--but I look upon these girls as my sisters. They're tremendously improved, and it's Toney's doing."
"Then you're not engaged to Maud! I always said it surprised me--Toney's too cute. Here we are--good heavens! It's not pleasant to see your ancestral home looking like this!"
The two men were surrounded immediately by responsible and irresponsible people. Sir Evas heard all that was known, and Lewis was shown where Toney had stood and told how she had saved the lives of Lady Dove and Miss Grossman. Lewis Waycott looked away. He was a strong man but at that moment he felt faint.