Mr. Preston's visits were now supposed to have ceased. But the next
afternoon, when Lydia was busy in the dairy, he came again to the farm.

He came now with both important and unpleasant tidings.

The heir in Australia had telegraphed: "He was not coming back to
England. Everything was to be sold; farm and all belongings to it
were to be got rid of as quickly as possible."

Lydia clasped her hands in dismay at these tidings. No time for any
more saving, no time for any more soft living, for the new owners of
Warren's Grove would be very unlikely to need her services.

"And there is another thing, Mrs. Purcell," continued the lawyer,
"which I confess grieves me even more than this. I have heard from
France. I had a letter this morning."

"There was no check in it, I warrant," said Lydia.

"No, I am sorry to tell you there was no check in it. The children's
cousin in France refuses to pay any more money to them. He says their
father is dead, and the children have no claim; besides, the vineyard
has been doing badly the last two years, and he considers that he has
given quite enough for it already; in short, he refuses to allow
another penny to these poor little orphans."

"But my sister Grace, the children's stepmother, said there was a
regular deed for this money," said Lydia. "She had it, and I believe