"That does not matter, Murphy. I have come here to make provision for Maureen."
"But," said Murphy, "marriage settlement, you know. It's impossible to twist a marriage settlement made prior to marriage. In that you have left everything to your own children."
"I cannot leave Maureen with no money," said the Rector. His voice was agitated, his face deadly pale, and there were drops of dew on his forehead. "Is there no possible way, Mr. Murphy," he continued, "in which my dear little niece can be provided for?"
"Well, Mr. O'Brien, right is right, and law is law, and if your children when they all come of age agree, with the sanction of the trustees, Mr. Walters of Walterscourt and Mr. O'More of Moresland, to share their money with the little girl, it can of course be done. By the way, how old is that lad there?"
"Fifteen," interrupted Dominic; "and I wish it done. I don't want to wait for any coming-of-age."
"Tut-tut, lad, you don't know the law.--Forgive me, O'Brien, but I am not very well acquainted with your family."
"There is my other son, Denis, aged eleven, and my baby, Kitty, aged six."
"Dear, dear, dear!" said Murphy. "You'd best see the trustees. I can do nothing, and I doubt if they can until your youngest child is of age; then of course the matter can be easily arranged and your little property divided into four instead of three shares."
He rose feebly. "I wrote to my trustees last night," he went on, "asking for an appointment. My time is short, and something must be done. I will go and see them immediately."
The tall, distinguished-looking clergyman left the room with his hand resting on Dominic's square young shoulder.
"I should like to spite that woman," thought Murphy, when the clergyman had left. "How bitter--how savage she was when she spoke to me yesterday; but God knows I can't see my way, and I am quite sure that O'More and Walters will agree with me. Sometimes marriage settlements can be very troublesome, although, on the other hand, they are the salvation of many a home. Poor, dear O'Brien, how well I remember when he signed that settlement, and the pretty, sweet girl who was with him, looking like the angel she was. Ah, they were happy, those two. There's a nice little sum accruing for those three children, for I see to all O'Brien's investments; and the five thousand pounds which he has paid for in the London Assurance has increased mightily in value. There will really be much more than ten thousand pounds to give to those three, but as to the little niece--well, there's a clause providing for the education of O'Brien's own children, but not a penny, not a penny for her. Poor little lamb, I shouldn't like to be left in my fine _lady's_ tender care. I wonder what will happen? Upon my word, I'm downright interested, and the poor fellow looks deadly bad. If his mind was at rest he might hold out for a year or two, otherwise--dear, dear, there's a lot of trouble in this world."