A Canadian Heroine, Volume 2

nteracting influence in the thought of all he had left in Canada. He found himself, without hesitation or difficulty, but with a suddenness wh

hope of becoming a successful provincial lawyer; now he was the heir, and all but the actual possesso

l liking and regard that they could get on comfortably together. Happily their very first meeting cleared up all doubts on the subject. Mr. Beresford instantly decided that a grandson who so strongly resembled his own family,

should be so, for the rich generally have no want of friends; but the puzzle soon explained itself as he began to know his grandfather better. Mr. Beresford had been a powerful and very active man; he had been proud of his strength and retained it to old age. Then, suddenly, paralysis came, and he was all at on

, and one of his first proceedings was, rather ostentatiously, to make a will which was to relieve him of all future trouble about its disposa

ss of aspect which belongs to an invalid's room. There had been some few visitors since Maurice's arrival, and what neighbours there were within a reasonable distance seemed disposed to be as friendly as possible; but still the monotony of this new life left him enough, and more than enough, leisure for speculations on the past and future, which had a

r rather lecture, about some affairs connected with the management of the estate w

d a way of enveloping herself in sweeping draperies and flowing robes that gave her a look of being much taller and infinitely more dignified than Nature had intended. She came in, in a kind of cloud, through which Maurice only distinguished an

said. "But you see, I have somebody

I am very glad to see my cousin," she said. "It wa

er husband had seen during their two months' tour. Mr. Beresford was interested and amused; the little lady possessed one decided advantage over Maurice, for she and her grandfather belonged entirely to the same world, though to two different generations, and could enter into the same subjects and understand the same allusions. While they talked, Maurice had an opportunity of looking more deliberately at his cousin. He liked her small graceful figure, her tiny hands, and bright sunshiny face, with its frame of almost

and went on smoothly and pleasantly enough till luncheon. After that meal Mr. Beresford always went to sleep; it was generally Maurice's holiday, when he could ride or wa

lour appeared at the hall door, and Maur

awl?" he said; "it is

to come out and talk to you, for grandpapa t

nade, which had been added as a decoration to the front of

th I have felt quite uncomfortable about grandpapa. I came over to se

er his cousin would not regard him as an interloper, coming between her and her inher

ry good friends, but till I saw you, I was not sure whether it was fortunate. It is so dis

to answer. However, the two or three words

ke my mother's family. I don't mean that he is not fond of me in one way; I only mean that my being like the St. Clairs inste

His cousin then had never expected to inherit Hu

making a child of my mother's his heir, who was

little sigh to the m

e I know perfectly well that grandpapa was continually looking out for a new daughter-in-law. He was disappointed, howev

ndfather been a

ed. Perhaps you have found out already that Hunsdon is a great deal more to him than so many acres of l

f his estate is quite as important as th

Therefore, I do not think, in any case, he would have left it to me. It was necessary he should

been for a little while heir of Dighton, and possible heir of Hunsdon, had died in her arms when the rejoicings for its birth were scarcely over. But he felt grateful

sband, and the country; and wanted to ask questions innumerable about his former home in Canada, his mother, and everything she could think of, the discussion of which would make them better acquainted. For she had quite decided that, as she said, they were to be very good friends; and, to put

promise from Maurice, not to wait for a visit from Sir John, who was always busy, but to go over and dine at Dighton very soon; a promise Mr. Beresford confirmed, being in his heart very glad to see such friendly relations springing up

acouna in possession of Mr. Percy came to in