This is a most difficult and painful matter." "It was born alive, and is a son and heir, as I heard ?" "Yes." "That is fortunate." "For some things; since, had it been a girl, the title would have lapsed, and the long line of Earls of Cairnforth ended.

At one time Dr.
Hamilton feared the child would be stillborn, and then, of course, the earldom would have been extinct.

The property must in that case have passed to the earl's distant cousins, the Bruces, of whom you may have heard, Mr.Cardross ?" "I have; and there are few things, I fancy, which Lord Cairnforth would have regretted more than such heir-ship." "You are right," said the keen W.S., evidently relieved.

"It was my instinctive conviction that you were in the late earl's confidence on this point, which made me decide to send and consult with you.

We must take all precautions, you see.