In short, as was his wont, he strove to make the best of the new turn affairs had taken.

Though guardian to Miss Cameron, and one of the trustees for the fortune she was to receive on attaining her majority, he had not the right to dictate as to her residence.

The late lord's will had expressly and pointedly corroborated the natural and lawful authority of Lady Vargrave in all matters connected with Evelyn's education and home.

It may be as well, in this place, to add, that to Vargrave and the co-trustee, Mr.Gustavus Douce, a banker of repute and eminence, the testator left large discretionary powers as to the investment of the fortune.

He had stated it as his wish that from one hundred and twenty to one hundred and thirty thousand pounds should be invested in the purchase of a landed estate; but he had left it to the discretion of the trustees to increase that sum, even to the amount of the whole capital, should an estate of adequate importance be in the market, while the selection of time and purchase was unreservedly confided to the trustees.