Father explained his will to us long ago; a third to them, and a third to brother George, and a third to us." Her son made a simple calculation in his mind.

Uncle George was a bachelor, and probably would never marry; Sydney and Amelia were childless.

The Major's only grandchild appeared to remain the eventual heir of the entire property, no matter if the Major did turn over to Sydney a third of it now.

And George had a fragmentary vision of himself, in mourning, arriving to take possession of a historic Florentine villa--he saw himself walking up a cypress-bordered path, with ancient carven stone balustrades in the distance, and servants in mourning livery greeting the new signore.

"Well, I suppose it's grandfather's own affair.