d so
much sense, for all that. Is the property large?'

'Rather large.'

'My dear, I am very glad. That makes you independent at once. I do not
know whether I ought to be glad of that; but you would never be led off
from any line of conduct you thought fit to enter, by either having or
wanting money.'

'I hope not. It is not _high_ praise to say that I am not mercenary.
Who was thinking to bribe me? and to what?'

'Never mind,' said Mrs. Dallas hastily. 'Was not the house at
Kensington part of the property?'

'Certainly.'

'And has that come to you too?'

'Yes, of course; just as it stood. I was going to ask if you would not
move in and take possession?'

'Take possession!--we?'

'Yes, mother; it is all ready. The old servants are there, and will
take very passably good care of you. Mrs. Bunce can cook a chop, and
boil an egg, and make a piece of toast; let me see, what else can she
do? Everything that my old uncle liked, I know; beyond that, I cannot
say how far her power extends. But I think she can make you
comfortable.'

'My dear, aren't you going to let the house?'

'No, mother.'

'Why not? You cannot live in chambers and there too?'

'I can never let the house. In the first place, it is too full of
things which have all of them more or less value, many of them _more_.
In the second place, the old servants have their home there, and will
always have it.'

'You are bound by the will?'

'Not at all. The will binds me to nothing.'

'Then, my dear boy! it may be a long time before you would want to set
up housekeeping there yourself; you might never wish it; and in the
meantime all this expense going on?'

'I know what uncle Strahan would have liked, mamma; but apart from
that, I could never turn adrift his old servants. They are devoted to
me now; and, besides, I wish to have the house taken care of. When you
have seen it, you will not talk any more about having it let. You will
come at once, will you not? It is better than _this_. I told Mrs. Bunce
she might make ready for you; and there is a special room for Miss
Frere, where she may study several things.'

He gave a pleasant glance at the young lady as he spoke, which
certainly assured her of a welcome. But Betty felt painfully
embarrassed.

'This is something we never contemplated,' she said, turning to Mrs.
Dallas. 'What will you do with me? _I_ have no right to Mr. Pitt's
hospitality, generous as it is.'

'You will come with us, of