And my heir should be some one whom I thoroughly do know, thoroughly respect, thoroughly love.

There is but one person in the world--one young person--who answers to all those requisites." "Who is that ?" "Helen Cardross." Mr.Menteith was a good deal surprised.

Though he had a warm corner in his heart for Helen, still, the idea of her as heiress to so large an estate was novel and startling.

He did not consider himself justified in criticizing the earl's choice; still, he thought it odd.

True, Helen was a brave, sensible, self-dependent woman--not a girl any longer -- and accustomed from the age of fifteen to guide a household, to be her father's right hand, and her brothers' help and counselor--one of those rare characters who, without being exactly masculine, are yet not too feebly feminine--in whom strength is never exaggerated to boldness, nor gentleness deteriorated into weakness.