"Did he leave my father nothing?" asked Harriet.

"He left him three hundred pounds and made him joint executor with Sir
Jovian. There was no mention of this house, which was the original
house of the family, the first Lord having built the Great House; and
both my father and Sir Jovian were sure the Lord Delavie believed it
would come to him; but no proofs were extant, and my Lady would only
consent to his occupying it, as before, as her agent."

"I always knew we were victims to an injustice," said Harriet, "though
I never understood the matter exactly."

"You were a mere child, and my father does not love to talk of it.
He ceased to care much about the loss after our dear Archie died."

"Not for Eugene's sake?"

"Eugene was not born for two years after Archie's death. My dear
mother had drooped from the time of the disappointment, blaming
herself for having ruined my father, and scarce accepting comfort
when he vowed that all was well lost for her sake. She reproached
herself with having been proud and unconciliatory, though I doubt
whether it made much difference. Then her spirit was altogether
crushed by the loss of Archie, she never had another day's health.
Eugene came to her like Ichabod to Phinehas' wife, and she was soon
gone from us," said Betty, wiping away a tear.

"Leaving us a dear sister to be a mother to us," said Aurelia, raising
her sweet face for a kiss.