ived some information which will make it your duty, I suspect, to
remain on shore. When I was last in England, I saw an account in the
newspapers of the death of the surviving children of your father's elder
brother, and now he himself has followed them to the grave. As far,
therefore, as I can learn, you are heir-at-law to the title and estates
of Lord Heatherly."

I almost lost my breath as I listened to this information. I could
scarcely indeed believe it.

"I think you must be mistaken, my dear sir," I answered. "I never even
heard my father say that he was likely to succeed to the title."

"Probably not," said Captain Davenport, "as your eldest uncle had two
children, and Lord Heatherly had a younger brother; but as all four have
since been removed by death, I believe that there is no other heir than
yourself."

This information he gave me at his house at Poplar, where Emily and I
were residing with him. That very afternoon our uncle, Mr Sedgwick,
arrived. He, too, had just heard of the death of my uncle, Mr
Heathfield, though he was not aware that all his children were also
dead.

"I see that I must bestir myself, Walter, for your and Emily's
interests," he observed. "Captain Davenport is right, I am sure, in
supposing that you are the heir-at-law to Lord Heatherly, besides which
you have inherited some property which would have been your mother's."

My uncle, though an enthusiastic naturalist, was also a man of action.
He proposed immediately setting off to visit Lord Heatherly, and to see
whether he would acknowledge my claims.

"I was once well acquainted with his lordship," he observed, "and I
think he will attend to my representations. If he does not, we must see
how far the law can help us. I have, however, little doubt that he will
be ready to acknowledge you as his heir."

The next day a postchaise arrived at the door, when my uncle and I
started in it for Hampshire, in which county Lord Heatherly resided. As
we neared the house, I observed the sadly dilapidated condition of
numerous cottages we passed; indeed, the whole property seemed to wear
an air of neglect very unusual, I must say, about an English estate. On
arriving at the house, the servant who opened the door said that Lord
Heatherly was very ill, and could not possibly see strangers.

"But I am not a stranger," said Mr Sedgwick; "and this young gentleman
is a relation of his lordship,--indeed, the nearest he has; and probabl