and you know I cannot help it now. I owe something besides to
them now. I will not disobey them in anything I can help; -
but I will be true, - as long as I live."

Miss Cardigan sat a long while silent, holding my hand all the
while; sometimes clasping, and sometimes fondling it. Then she
turned and kissed me. It was very hard to bear, all of it.

"I suppose you are a great heiress," she said at last; as if
the words escaped her, and with a breath of a sigh.

"It is not that!" I exclaimed. "No, I am not. I am not - I
shall not be a great heiress, or an heiress at all, I think.
Christian is richer than I."

"My dear!" said Miss Cardigan. "Christian never said a word to
me about it, but your friend Mrs. Sandford - she told _me_; she
told me you would be one of the richest women in your State."

"She thought so," - I said.

"My dear, your parents are very wealthy; and they have only
one other child, Mrs. Sandford told me. I remember, for it
took me with a pity at my heart, little Daisy, for you."

"Yes, they are wealthy," I said; "and Ransom, my brother, is
the only other one. _He_ will be rich. But I shall not."

"Do you mean he is the favourite?" said Miss Cardigan.