And thus, for the first time since the late earl's death, the place--the master's place--was filled.
"Mr.Cardross, will you say grace ?" The minister tried once--twice--thrice; but his voice failed him.
His tender heart, which had lived through so many losses, and this day saw all the past brought before him vivid as yesterday, entirely broke down.

Thereupon the earl, from his seat at the head of his own table, repeated simply and naturally the few words which every head of a household--as priest in his own family--may well say, "For these and all other mercies, Lord, make us thankful." After that, Mr.Menteith took snuff vehemently, and Mr.Cardross openly wiped his eyes.

But Helen's, if not quite dry, were very bright.

Her woman's heart, which looked beyond the pain of suffering into the beauty of suffering nobly endured, even as faith looks through "the grave and gate of death" into the glories of immortality--Helen's heart was scarcely sad, but very glad and proud.
The day after Lord Cairnforth's coming of age Mr.Menteith formally resigned his trust.

He had managed the property so successfully during the long minority that even he himself was surprised at the amount of money, both capital and income, which the earl was now master of, without restriction or reservation, and free from the control of any human being.
"Yes, my lord," said he, when the young man seemed subdued and almost overcome by the extent of his own wealth, "it is really all your own.
You may make ducks and drakes of it, as the saying goes, as soon as ever you please.