"Tell me one thing," he said. "Be you sure that to do this
is not to wrong some other — somebody of your own kin
who have a right to it all ? Can you swear that ?"

"None has a right. I'm alone in the world. My kin are
remote and nothing to me. They are well-to-do, and have no
anxiety. You must keep John Prout easy and comfortable
until he dies, and also his sister — that's the only condi-
tion."

"I can't bring it home to my mind. 'Tis too much to happen
to a man. I don't know what to say. "

"Say you're my friend — that's all I want you to say. "

"'Your friend!' This is not friendship. This is a thing



284 THE WmRLWIND

greater than friendship; I know how to thank my God; I

don't know what to say to you, master. "

''Not master. Thank Ine by calling me 'master' no
more. Thank me by seeing me oftener — both of you.
