"
"Yes, it's only right that I should do so. As soon as
I feel equal to the effort I will draw up a will."
"I hope you will, for I should not care to be
dependent on Carl, who does not like me. I
hope you will not think me mercenary, but to
Peter and myself this is of vital importance."
"No, I don't misjudge you. I ought to have
thought of it before."
"I don't care so much about myself," said
Mrs. Crawford, in a tone of self-sacrifice,
"but I should not like to have Peter thrown
upon the world without means."
"All that you say is wise and reasonable,"
answered her husband, wearily. "I will attend
to the matter to-morrow."
The next day Mrs. Crawford came into her
husband's presence with a sheet of legal cap.
"My dear husband," she said, in a soft,
insinuating tone, "I wished to spare you trouble,
and I have accordingly drawn up a will
to submit to you, and receive your signature,
if you approve it."
Dr. Crawford looked surprised.
"Where did you learn to write a will?" he asked.
"I used in my days of poverty to copy documents for a lawyer,"
she replied. "In this way I became something of a lawyer myself."
"I see. Will you read what you have prepared?"
Mrs. Crawford read the document in her hand. It provided
in the proper legal phraseology for an equal division
of the testator's estate between the widow and Carl.
"I didn't know, of course, what provision you intended
to make for me," she said, meekly. "Perhaps you do not
care to leave me half the estate.
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