hough he could learn little more about him than that his name was
Norman. At length the Saint Lawrence was reached, and the Ashton family
landed safely at Quebec, the chief port of the superb province which the
gallantry of Wolfe won for England, and which, mainly by the
perseverance and energy of Anglo-Saxon inhabitants, has become one of
the brightest jewels in the British crown.

CHAPTER TWO.

"We have gained the day, Mrs Ashton! We have gained the day, girls!"
exclaimed Mr Ashton, rushing with his hat on into the small
sitting-room of a red brick house in a dull street of a country town in
England. Various exclamations broke from the lips of Mrs and the
Misses Ashton at this unexpected announcement. For reasons best known
to himself, Mr John Ashton had not informed his wife and daughters of
the law-suit going on between himself and his relative, Mr Philip
Ashton. "Guess the amount!" he exclaimed. That was impossible. "What
do you think of six thousand a-year? Every shilling of it, and under my
management it will become ten thousand; ay, and more than that,
probably." It was some time before the Ashtons could realise the fact
of this good fortune, as they called it; but as they realised it their
ideas expanded, their aspirations increased. Their eldest son, John,
lately articled to an attorney, must be entered at Oxford; the second,
apprenticed to a draper, was sent off to Germany to grow whiskers and a
moustache, lest any of the country gentry should recognise him as having
measured out ribbons for them from behind the counter; while the
youngest was taken from the Grammar-school and sent off, much against
his will, to form aristocratic acquaintances at Eton. The great
ambition of the Miss Ashtons was to shine in London society. Their
father boasted that money could do everything. It enabled him to obtain
a handsome house, equipage, and establishment, and then to commence
their career in the world of fashion. There were three Miss Ashtons.
The two eldest were considered beauties; the youngest, Mary, had been
absent on a visit, and did not return home till her father was on the
point of setting off for London.

"Father, I wish to speak to you alone," said Mary, on the evening of her
arrival. Mr Ashton led the way to his office at the back of the house.
He had considerable respect for Mary, though he tried not to show it.
"Father, I hope that you will not consider I have been wanting in duty
in h