words spoken or written;
but this does not prevent his son taking the position of a legitimate
heir. He is quiet and unassuming, and will take a very good place in
society."

"It was well," said Elsie, with a faint laugh, "that this clause was
inserted, for you seem to be in some danger."

"Not at all; but we were thrown together in very extraordinary
circumstances, and I could not help feeling for his position as he felt
for ours. Nor could I help asking for advice from him. I agree with my
uncle about cousins. He was right there, as he always used to be. At
least, he brought me up to think like him, and I can scarcely believe
that what he has now done is wrong."

"But, Jane, setting this cousin out of the way, what do you think of
William Dalzell?"

"I was just thinking of him when you spoke," said Jane, resolutely.

"Uncle must have had him in his mind when he mentioned fortune-hunters
in his will, for he never seemed to like him coming here so often; and
just six weeks ago I had been going out riding with him every day. You
said you were not well, and would not accompany us. I suppose I was
giving him what people consider a great deal of encouragement. If my
uncle had said plainly that he disapproved of the intimacy, I wonder if
I would have given it up? Perhaps not--one does not like to be dictated
to. It appeared to myself so strange that he should prefer me to you.
And now I recollect that my uncle must have paid his last visit to
Edinburgh just before he made his will; and there he would see this
young man filling his place in the world so well, while I was behaving
so foolishly. The contrast must have struck him, and he certainly has
put an end to everything between Mr. Dalzell and myself."

"Oh, Jane, he is no fortune-hunter; this will make no change. If you
marry him you must take me home with you, and tell him it is what I
deserve for standing his friend so well."

"My dearest Elsie, you have talked a great deal about Mr. Dalzell, and
I have rather foolishly listened to it, but that must be stopped now. I
know he is poor; he thought to better himself by a wealthy marriage;
and perhaps if I had been left now with 20,000 pounds, with nothing to
do and nothing to think of, his agreeable qualities----"

"Well, you own he has agreeable qualities."

"Yes; I have always owned it--they might have induced me to marry him;
and you, as the possessor of other 20,000 pounds, would have been a
most welcome inma