d you are right in so doing; but, Lionel, you forget that my
duty as executrix will be to make the best of the estate for you until
you are of age, and this house must be let furnished; Mr Selwyn told me
so, while you were away; besides, I am not a young lady of fortune, but
one most unfortunately dependent upon the caprices of others, and I must
submit to my fate."

Lionel made no reply for some little while, and then he said, "I am very
glad that Lady R--has showed the high opinion she had of you, but I
cannot forgive her treatment of my mother. It was too cruel; but I had
better not talk any more about it; and I am sure, Miss Valerie, you must
be anxious to be alone. Good afternoon, Miss Valerie."

"Good-bye, Lionel, for the present," replied I. "By-the-bye, did the
cook recognise you?"

"Yes; and I told her that I had given up going out to service."

"I think that you had better not come here, Lionel, till I have
dismissed Lady R--'s maid, which I shall do the day after her arrival.
I will meet you at Mr Selywn's office--it will be better."

To this Lionel agreed, and we parted.

The next day the will was proved, and Mr Selwyn then informed us that
he had found the will of the late Colonel Dempster, which had left his
property to his child unborn, as might be supposed, with a jointure on
the estate, which was entailed. The will, in consequence of the
supposed non-existence of Lionel, had been proved by the next of kin, a
gentleman of large property, and of whom report spoke highly. It was
the intention of Mr Selwyn to communicate with him directly. The
probate-duty, etcetera, had required a large portion of the 1200 pounds
left in the bank, but there was still enough to meet all Lionel's wants
for a year, if he wished to go abroad immediately, and another dividend
would be due in a month, so that there could be no difficulty. Mr
Selwyn explained all this as we drove to his chambers, where I signed
some papers at his request, and Lionel received a check on the bank, and
I sent, by Mr Selwyn, instructions to meet his drafts for the future.

This affair being arranged, Lionel stated his intention of quitting
immediately for Paris. He said that he would go for his passport that
afternoon, as there was time enough left for him to give in his name at
the office; and that he would call to-morrow afternoon to bid me
farewell. He then took his leave, and left me with Mr Selwyn, with
whom I had a long conversa