to feel the subject an awkward one.

"Only six miles, fortunately. I say fortunately, _now_, because I hope
we are going to be very good friends, but till I saw you, I was not sure
whether it was fortunate. It is so disagreeable to have near neighbours
whom one does not like, especially if they are relations."

Her frankness was amusing, but not very easy to answer. However, the two
or three words he found for the occasion did perfectly well.

"You are exactly like the Beresfords," she went on, "and that I know
must please grandpapa. He never liked me because I am like my mother's
family. I don't mean that he is not fond of me in one way; I only mean
that my being like the St. Clairs instead of like the Beresfords is one
reason why he would never have left Hunsdon to me when there was
anybody else to leave it to."

Maurice felt a little relieved and enlightened. His cousin then had
never expected to inherit Hunsdon; he took courage on that, to ask a
question.

"But as he could not have thought until lately of making a child of my
mother's his heir, who was supposed to stand next in succession to my
uncle?"

Lady Dighton gave a little sigh to the memory of her father.

"Grandpapa always wished him to marry again," she said. "Mamma died six
years ago; then I was married, and from that time I know perfectly well
that grandpapa was continually looking out for a new daughter-in-law. He
was disappointed, however; I do not think myself that papa would have
married. At any rate he did not; and then, nearly two years ago, he
died."

"And has my grandfather been alone ever since?"

"Yes. For some time he was too much grieved to trouble himself about the
future--and then he was paralysed. Perhaps you have found out already
that Hunsdon is a great deal more to him than so many acres of land and
so much money? He loves it, and cares about it, more I believe than
about any living creature."

"Yes; I can understand that the future of his estate is quite as
important as the future of a son or daughter would be."

"Quite. He never could have borne the idea of its being joined to, or
swallowed up by another. Therefore, I do not think, in any case, he
would have left it to me. It was necessary he should have an heir, who
would be really his successor, and I am very glad indeed that he found
you."

Maurice did not quite understand the slight unconscious sadness of the
tone in which Lady Dighton said, "in any case;" he did no