lishman."

"What then, mamma? He is a gentleman. Who, in all this neighborhood, can
compare with him?"

"No one! no one!" answered Rachael, with enthusiasm. "There is but one
man on all the earth so far above the rest; but persons who look upon
birth and wealth as everything, may not see him with our eyes, my Clara.
Then there is another objection. Hepworth is over thirty."

"Mamma Rachael, you know well enough that I never did like boys," said
Clara, with childish petulance.

"And compared with the great landed noblemen of England, he is poor."

"Not so, mamma Rachael. He has made lots and lots of money out in those
countries where they dig gold from the earth. He described it all to me,
about washing dirt in pans, and crushing rocks in great machines, and
picking up pure gold in nuggets--why, he found an awful big one himself.
I daresay he has got more real money than papa. I do, indeed."

Lady Hope sighed. Perhaps she thought so too; for Oakhurst was closely
entailed, and ready money was sometimes scarce in that sumptuous
dwelling.

"And then how much shall I have? Let me ask that of papa."

"But you will inherit something with the Carset title in spite of your
grandmother."

"Yes, I know. An enormous old castle with just land enough to keep it in
repair. That isn't much to boast of, or make a man like Mr. Closs feel
modest when he thinks of me."

"But the title. Is it nothing to be a peeress in your own right?"

"I would rather he were an earl, and I a peeress in his right."

"You are a strange girl, Clara."

"But you love me if I am, mamma Rachael."

"Love you, child! You will never know how much!"

"And if it so happened that he did really like me, you wouldn't go
against it?"

"But what would my will be opposed to that of your father?"

"Only this--you can do anything with papa. Don't I remember when I was a
little girl?"

Rachael sighed heavily.

"That was a long time ago, Clara, and childish wants are easily
satisfied."

Clara threw both arms around her stepmother's neck and kissed her.

"Never mind if he is a little stubborn now and then; you can manage him,
yet, mamma. Only, don't let Mr. Closs do that horrid thing. I never
could ride alone with the ponies after the last three weeks. You don't
know how instructive he is! Why, we have travelled all over the world
together, and now he wants to throw me overboard; but you won't let him
do that, mamma Rachael. What need is there of any