ould
have come to Cairnforth for any other purpose than mere curiosity, and
remained there for any motive except idleness and the pursuit of health,
did not occur to Lord Cairnforth.

"It is on the subject that you so much dislike my talking about--my
own death; a probability which I have to consider, as being rather
nearer to me than it is to most people. Should I die, will you remember
that my will lies at the office of Menteith and Ross, Edinburg?"

"So you have made your will?" said the captain, rather eagerly; then
added, "What a courageous man you are! I never durst make mine. But
then, to be sure, I have nothing to leave--except my sword, which I
hereby make over to you, well-beloved cousin."

"Thank you, though I should have very little use it. And that reminds
me to explain something. The day I made my will was, by an odd chance,
the day you arrived here. Had I know you then, I should have named you
in it, leaving you--I may as well tell you the sum--a thousand
pounds, in token of cousinly regard."

"You are exceedingly kind, but I am no fortune-hunter."

"I know that. Still, the legacy may not be useless. I shall make it
legally secure as soon as I get to Edinburg. In any case you are quite
safe, for I have mentioned you to my heir."

"Your heir! Who do you mean?" interrupted Captain Bruce, thrown off his
guard by excessive surprise.

The earl said, with a little dignity of manner, "It is scarcely needful
to answer your question. The title, you are aware, will be extinct; I
meant the successor to my landed property."

"Do I know the gentleman?"

"I named no gentleman."

"Not surely a lady? Not--" a light suddenly breaking in upon him, so
startling that it overthrew all his self-control, and even his good
breeding. "It can not possibly be Miss Helen Cardross?"

"Captain Bruce," said the earl, the angry color flashing all over his
pale face, "I was simply communicating a message to you; there was no
need for any farther questioning."

"I beg your pardon, Lord Cairnforth," returned the other, perceiving how
great a mistake he had made. "I have no right whatever to question, or
even to speculate concerning your heir, who is doubtless the fittest
person you could have selected."

"Most certainly," replied the earl, in a manner which put a final stop
to the conversation.

It was not resumed on any other topics; and shortly afterward, Malcolm
having come in with the announcement that