His eyes filled with tears as they followed the dutiful Amy out of the
room one morning. Dirk Waldron was seated beside him; Wolfert grasped
his hand, pointed after his daughter, and for the first time since his
illness broke the silence he had maintained.
"I am going!" said he, shaking his head feebly, "and when I am gone - my
poordaughter - "
"Leave her to me, father!" said Dirk, manfully - "I'll take care of
her!"
Wolfert looked up in the face of the cheery, strapping youngster, and
saw there was none better able to take care of a woman.
"Enough," said he, "she is yours! - and now fetch me a lawyer - let me
make my will and die."
The lawyer was brought - a dapper, bustling, round-headed little man,
Roorback (or Rollebuck, as it was pronounced) by name. At the sight of
him the women broke into loud lamentations, for they looked upon the
signing of a will as the signing of a death-warrant. Wolfert made a
feeble motion for them to be silent.
