al--I
thought that, perhaps, it would be only right, and that I ought not to
place an obstacle in the way. But I could not take anything for myself."

There was a little pause.

"Oh, Lizzie, how good you are!" cried Kitty, softly.

Percival took a step nearer; his face looked very dark.

"And, pray, what did the lawyer say to your proposition?" he inquired.

"He said he must communicate with Mr. Brian Luttrell, but he thought
that there would be no objection to it on his part," said Elizabeth.
"But he had not time to do so, you see. Brian Luttrell is dead. Here are
all the letters about it, Aunt Isabel, if you want to see them. I was
going to speak to Uncle Alfred this very day."

"Well, Lizzie," said Mrs. Heron, taking the letters from her niece's
hand, "I am glad that we are honoured by your confidence at last. I
think it would have been better, however, if you had told us a little
earlier of poor Mr. Luttrell's kindness, and then other people could
have managed the business for you. Of course, it would have been
repugnant to your feelings to accept money for yourself, and another
person could have accepted it in your name with a much better grace."

"But that is what I wanted to avoid," said Elizabeth, with a smile. "I
would not have taken one penny for myself from Mr. Brian Luttrell, but
if he would have repaid my uncle for part of what he has done for
me----"

Her sentence came to an abrupt end. Percival had turned aside and flung
himself into an arm-chair near the fire. He was the picture of
ill-humour; and something in his face took away from Elizabeth the
desire to say more. Mrs. Heron read the letters complacently, and Kitty
put her arm round her cousin's, waist and tried to draw her towards the
hearth-rug for a gossip. But Elizabeth preserved her position near Mrs.
Heron's sofa, although she looked down at the girl with a smile.

"I know what Isabel meant--what we all meant," said Kitty, "when we were
so disagreeable to you a little time ago, Lizzie. We all felt that we
could not for one moment have kept a secret from you, and we resented
your superior self-control. Fancy your knowing all this for the last
fortnight, and never saying a word about it! Tell me in confidence,
Lizzie, now didn't you want to whisper it to me, under solemn vows of
secrecy?"

"I'm afraid you would never have kept your vows," said Elizabeth. "I
meant to tell you very soon, Kitty."

"And so you are a rich woman, Elizabeth!