"Well," he said at length, "I suppose that I must come to a decision. It
is a painful matter, very, to a person of modest temperament. However, I
cannot shrink from my duty, and must face it. Therefore," he went on with
an air of judicial sternness, "therefore, Miss Smithers, I must trouble
you to show me this alleged will. There is a cupboard there," and he
pointed to the corner of the room, "where you can make--'um--make the
necessary preparations."
"Oh, it isn't quite so bad as that," said Augusta, with a sigh, and she
began to remove her jacket.
"Dear me!" he said, observing her movement with alarm, "I suppose she is
hardened," he continued to himself: "but I dare say one gets used to this
sort of thing upon desert islands."
Meanwhile poor Augusta had got her jacket off. She was dressed in
an evening dress, and had a white silk scarf over her shoulder: this
she removed.
"Oh," he said, "I see--in evening dress. Well, of course, that is
quite a different matter. And so that is the will--well, I have had
some experience, but I never saw or heard of anything like it before.
Signed and attested, but not dated. Ah! unless," he added, "the date
is lower down."
"No," said Augusta, "there is no date; I could not stand any more
tattooing.
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