



Produced by Col Choat.  HTML version by Al Haines.









[Updater's note: In Volume I, Chapters VIII and IX both have the same
title: "Peggy Walker's Adventures".  This was confirmed with the
source book.]





Mr. Hogarth's Will


by

Catherine Helen Spence





CONTENTS



TOC here!!



Volume I.




Chapter I.

The Will


In a large and handsomely-furnished room of a somewhat old-fashioned
house, situated in a rural district in the south of Scotland, was
assembled, one day in the early summer of 185-, a small group in deep
mourning.

Mr. Hogarth, of Cross Hall, had been taken suddenly ill a few days
previously, and had never recovered consciousness so far as to be able
to speak, though he had apparently known those who were about him, and
especially the two orphan nieces whom he had brought up as his
daughters. He had no other near relations whom any one knew of, and had
never been known to regret that the name of Hogarth, of Cross Hall, was
likely to become extinct. He had the reputation of being the most
eccentric man in the country, and was thought to be the most
inconsistent.

With the highest opinion possible of women, and the greatest pleasure
in their society, he had never married; and with the greatest affection
for his nieces, and the greatest theoretical confidence in them, he had
hedged them about with countless laws and restrictions, and had
educated them in a way quite different from the training of young
ladies of their rank and prospects. He had succeeded two childless
elder brothers in the possession of the estate; and Jane and Alice
Melville were the only children of his only sister, who had been dead
for fifteen years.

The funeral had just taken place, and the two girls had been summoned
into the drawing-room to hear the will read by Mr. MacFarlane, the
Edinburgh lawyer, who had drawn it out. They found in the room Mr.
Baird, their uncle's medical attendant, and a stranger whom they had
never seen before--a tall, grave-looking man of about thirty-four,
whose mourning was new, and who showed a deep interest in what was
going on.

Both the man of law and the man of medicine looked nervous and
embarrassed, and delayed proceeding to business as long as they
possibly could; fumbling with knots of red tape; opening the closed
curtains to admit a little more light, and then closing them again, as
if the light was too strong; so that the sisters had time to look at
the stranger, and to wonder who he was and what his business could be
there. He also seemed to be taking notes of the young ladies in a
quiet, timid manner.

At last the will was opened, and after the usual preamble, the lawyer's
voice seemed to break a little. He cleared his throat, and continued in
a lower tone----

"As I have come to the conclusion that the minds of men and women are
radically the same, and as I believe that if the latter are trained in
the same way as the former they will be equally capable of making their
own way in the world, I have acted upon this principle in the education
of my two beloved nieces, Jane and Alice Melville, the only surviving
children of my sister Mary Hogarth; and as I foresee that if I were to
leave them wealthy heiresses my purpose would be completely thwarted,
by Jane losing her independent character, and Alice sinking into a
confirmed invalid, and by both being to a dead certainty picked up by
needy spendthrifts, who will waste their fortunes and break their
hearts, as their father, George Melville, served my poor foolish
sister, I hereby convey and dispose all my property, whatsoever and
wheresoever, heritable and moveable, to Francis Ormistown, otherwise
Hogarth, at present head clerk in the Bank of Scotland, who is my son
by a private irregular marriage contracted with Elizabeth Ormistown, on
the ninth day of July, 18--, and who is my heir-at-law, though he would
find it difficult to prove his claim, as he knows nothing of the
relation between us, and as the only party besides myself cognizant of
the marriage dares not come forward to prove it, but whose progress I
have watched with interest, who has made an honourable position for
himself, without any assistance from me beyond a good education, who
has served faithfully, and who is likely to rule uprightly, who has
raised himself from nameless poverty, and whom, therefore, I judge to
be worthy of wealth and honour: Provided always, that he shall pay to
Jane and Alice Melville, my beloved nieces aforesaid, the sum of twelve
pounds a year each, in quarterly payments in advance, for three years
following my decease, when such payments shall cease, as by that time I
believe they will be independent in circumstances: Provided also that
he shall give to the said Jane and Alice Melville, the furniture and
personal effects belonging to them, as mentioned more particularly in
the schedule marked A, appended to this instrument; and that he shall
give to the said Jane and Alice Melville no further assistance either
in money or in money's worth, directly or indirectly, whatsoever: Also
providing that the said Francis Ormistown, otherwise Hogarth, shall not
marry either of his cousins; the marriage of such near relations being
mischievous and improper.

"In case of any of these provisions being disregarded by the said
Francis Ormistown, otherwise Hogarth, all my heritable and moveable
property shall be divided among certain benevolent institutions, in the
order and manner set forth in the schedule marked with the letter B.

"All these provisions I have made, as being the best for my surviving
relatives; and I believe they will eventually acknowledge them to be
such."

It would be hard to say which of the three parties interested, felt
most astonishment at this extraordinary will. Jane Melville stood rigid
and silent, with her face flushed and her eyes filled with tears, which
she would not let fall. Alice's face lost all colour, and she seemed
ready to faint. But the greatest excitement was shown by the fortunate
legatee. He shook from head to foot, steadying himself on the
table--looked from the two girls to the two gentlemen with bewildered
eyes--and said at last with difficulty, in a low, soft, tremulous
voice----

"Was Mr. Hogarth in his senses when he made this will?"

"A little excited, but indisputably in full possession of his senses,
strange as the will appears," said Mr. MacFarlane, the lawyer; "and Mr.
Baird will corroborate my opinion."

Mr. Baird bowed his head affirmatively. "Quite true--his head was quite
clear at the time. The will was made six weeks ago, and you, Miss
Melville, know how well he was then. Very grieved, indeed--most
inconceivable conduct--cruel--inconsiderate. I feel deeply for your
disappointment. Try not to give way, Miss Alice--or perhaps you had
better give way, it may relieve you. Mr. MacFarlane tells me that he
remonstrated with Mr. Hogarth. Most painful duty--must obey
instructions, of course. Your uncle seemed like adamant. I pity you
with all my heart."

"And so do I, with all my heart," said Mr. MacFarlane.

"And does no one pity me?" said the low voice of the heir to all; but
it was unheeded, for Alice had fainted. Her sister and Mr. Baird laid
her on the sofa, and applied the usual restoratives.

Mr. MacFarlane began to speak in an undertone, to the new master, of
the extent and value of the property he had thus suddenly come into
possession of, and congratulated him rather stiffly on the turn of
fortune that had raised him from a life of labour and comparative
poverty to ease and affluence; but his embarrassment was nothing
compared to that of the man whom he addressed. Francis Hogarth looked
round the spacious room, and out of the window to the pleasant
shrubbery and smooth-shaven lawn, and shuddered when he thought of the
two young cousins, brought up apparently in the lap of luxury, who were
to be turned out upon the world with 12 pounds a-year for three years.
The elder sister seemed to have a vigorous and robust constitution, but
the younger looked delicate. He saw, in his mind's eye, two
governesses, dragging out a weary and monotonous existence, far from
each other, while he, possessed of superabundance, was debarred from
helping them.

He advanced timidly to the sofa. Alice, who had recovered
consciousness, covered her face with both her hands, and sobbed aloud.
Jane turned towards him a glance, not of reproach, but of pity. He felt
it, and took her hand.

"Believe me, Miss Melville, no one can regret this extraordinary will
as