sob helplessly and hold
Elizabeth's firm, white hand in a feeble grasp. "Is it really true? Have
you inherited a great fortune? Are you going to be very rich?"

Elizabeth made a little pause before she answered the question. "Brian
Luttrell is dead," she said at last, rather slowly. "And I am very
sorry."

"And the Luttrells are your cousins? And you are the heiress after
them?"

"Yes."

"But when did you know this first?" said Kitty, anxiously looking up
into her tall cousin's face.

"Yes, when did you know it first?" repeated Mrs. Heron, with a weak and
sighing attempt at solemnity.

"I knew that I was the Luttrells' cousin all my life," said Elizabeth.
There was a touch of perversity in her answer.

"Yes--yes. But when did you know that you were the next heir--or
heiress? You cannot have known that all your life," said Mrs. Heron.

"I did not know that until a few days ago. I had a letter from a lawyer
when Brian Luttrell went abroad. Mr. Brian Luttrell wished him to
communicate with me and to tell me----"

"Well?" said Mrs. Heron, curiously. "To tell you what?"

"That it was probable that the property would come to me," Elizabeth
answered, for the first time with some embarrassment, "as he did not
intend to marry. And that he wished to settle a certain sum upon me--in
case I might be in want of money now."

"And that was a fortnight ago?" said Percival.

"Yes," said Elizabeth, without looking at him, "nearly a fortnight ago."

"This is very interesting," said Mrs. Heron, who was languidly
brightening as she heard Elizabeth's story and recognised the fact that
substantial advantages were likely to accrue to the household from
Elizabeth's good fortune. "And of course you accepted the offer, Lizzie
dear? But why did you not tell us at once?"

"I waited until things should be settled. The matter might have fallen
through. It did not seem worth while to mention it until it was
settled," said Elizabeth.

"How much did he offer you? Mr. Brian Luttrell must have been a very
generous man."

"I think he was--very generous," said Elizabeth, looking up warmly. "I
considered the matter for some time, and I wished that I could accept
his kindness, but----"

"You don't mean to say that you refused it?"

"I did not refuse it altogether," explained Elizabeth, her face glowing.
"I told him my circumstances, and all that my uncle had done for me, and
that if he chose to place a sum of money at my uncle's dispos