"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 not even know
that the one baby who had been for a little while heir of Dighton, and
possible heir of Hunsdon, had died in her arms when the rejoicings for
its birth were scarcely over. But he felt grateful to her for speaking
to him so frankly, and his new position looked the more satisfactory now
he knew that no shadow of wrong was done to any one by his occupying it.

Lady Dighton understood this perfectly well. She had a quick perception
of the character and feelings of those she associated with; and had
talked to Maurice intentionally of what she guessed he must wish to
hear. She had a great deal more to say to him, still, about her
grandfather and her husband, and the country; and wanted to ask
questions innumerable about his former home in Canada, his mother, and
everything she could think of, the discussion of which would make them
better acquainted. For she had quite decided that, as she said, they
were to be very good friends; and, to put all family interest and ties
on one side, there was something not disagreeable in the idea of taking
under her own peculiar tutelage a young and handsome man, who was quite
new to the world, and about entering it with all the prestige which
attends the heir of fifteen or twenty thousand a year.

They were still talking busily when Mr. Beresford's man came to say that