of money
can make up to you," was the kind and sympathetic response. Then the man
returned to business again, "But--do you mind telling me your age, Miss
Montague?"

"I was eighteen the day before my uncle died," the stricken girl replied,
with a keen heart-pang, as she recalled that eventful day.

"You are very young to have care of so much property," said the lawyer,
gravely. "What would be your wish as to the management of it? You ought
really to have a guardian for the next few years. If you will designate
some one whom you would wish, and could trust to act as such, I will
gladly assist in putting Mr. Dinsmore's affair in convenient shape for
him."

"You are very good, Mr. Graves," Mona thoughtfully returned. Then she
added, wistfully: "Why cannot _you_ act as my guardian? I know of no one
in whom I have so much confidence. Uncle Walter trusted you, and surely
there can be no one who understands his affairs as well as you do."

The man's face lighted at this evidence of her trust in him.

"Thank you, Miss Mona," he said. "It is of course gratifying to me to
know that you desire this, and I really think that Mr. Dinsmore would
have suggested such an arrangement had he been able to do so; but
of course I felt delicate about proposing it. Walter Dinsmore was a dear
and valued friend, as well as my client, and, believe me, I feel a deep
interest in you, for his sake, as well as your own. I will accept the
trust, and do the best I can for you, my child, thanking you again
heartily for your confidence in me."

He spent a long time, after that, talking over business matters and
looking over some of Mr. Dinsmore's papers, and when at length he took
his leave, Mona was really greatly comforted, and felt that she had
found a true friend to rely upon in her loneliness.

CHAPTER VI.

A BOLD AND CUNNING SCHEME.

On the afternoon previous to Mr. Dinsmore's death a woman of perhaps
sixty years alighted from an elegant private carriage before the door
of a fine residence on West ---- street, in New York city.

She was simply but richly clad in heavy, lustrous black silk, and was a
woman of fine appearance, although her face wore a look of deep sadness
which seemed to indicate some hidden trouble or sorrow.

Her hair was almost white, but carefully arranged, and lay low upon her
placid, but slightly wrinkled, brow in soft, silken waves that were very
becoming to her. Her complexion was unusually clear and fair