eirs
to whom is given the heart as well as the power to dispense wisely and
liberally, and surely Allison would be one of these. Still, the
conclusion to which Mr Hume came, was that Allison must be left to
decide for herself.

So Mr Hume's reply to Mr Rainy's letter was not very satisfactory to
that gentleman, and he could only hope, that as the months went on,
something might occur which would suggest more reasonable views to them
all.

Mrs Esselmont went to Aberdeen, and it so happened that she had an
interview with Mr Rainy before she saw Allison. She owned herself
impressed by what he had to say. Therefore when she met Allison, her
first words to her were not those which she had intended to use. She
spoke very gently and kindly, but it was with the desire to convince
Allison that though it might not be for her pleasure, it might still be
her duty to yield to wise guidance, and accept the lot which she had not
chosen for herself, but which seemed to be the lot appointed for her.
She dwelt on the advantages which would naturally follow such an
acceptance,--the good which in so many ways Allison might do, the
position which she would have, and which she would hold with credit and
honour.

There was more said than this, and Allison listened in silence, with a
look in her eyes which brought Mrs Esselmont to a pause at last.

"Were these your first thoughts about me when you heard what had
befallen me? And do you think that I would be a happier woman or a
better, for being a richer woman?" asked Allison quietly.

"Not happier or better, perhaps, but you might be more useful. No, I
must own that my first thought was, that you did well to refuse to
receive anything from him from whom you had fled, and from whom you had
hidden yourself so long. But you owe something to his memory. Do you
not see how it would quiet the evil tongues which are raised against
him, if you were to take your rightful place and do there the duties
which he, I fear, neglected sometimes to do?"

"I could not go there," said Allison.

That was all she had to say. She had no reasons to give, and she had
nothing to answer to all the good reasons which Mrs Esselmont had heard
from Mr Rainy, and which she tried to set before her.

Mrs Esselmont kept her best argument till the last. It was not one
which had been suggested to her by Mr Rainy.

"Allison, I can understand why you may shrink from the responsibility
which the acceptance of