“Oh, if you are satisfied that is enough,” was the significant rejoinder, and Lady Angleby’s hopes had a wider echo.

To Mr. Cecil Burleigh his old friend’s bequest was a boon to be thankful for, and he was profoundly thankful.  It set him above troublesome anxieties and lifted his private life into the sphere of comfort.  But his first visit to Abbotsmead and first meeting with Miss Fairfax after it was communicated to him tried his courage not a little.  The intimacy that had been kept up, and even improved during Mr. Fairfax’s decline, had given him no grounds for hoping better success with Elizabeth as a lover than before, and yet he was convinced that in leaving him this fine fortune the squire had continued to indulge his expectations of their ultimate union.  That Elizabeth would be inclined towards him in the slightest degree by the fact of his gaining the inheritance that she had forfeited, he never for one moment dreamed; the contrary might be possible, but not that.  Amongst the many and important duties and interests that engaged him now he had neither leisure nor desire for sentimental philandering.  He was a very busy man of the world, and wished for the rest of a home.  Insensibly his best thoughts reverted to his dear Julia, never married, still his very good friend.  He approved the sweet rosy face of Elizabeth Fairfax, her bright spirit and loving, unselfish disposition, but he found it impossible to flatter himself that she would ever willingly become his wife.  Lady Angleby insisted that honor demanded a renewal of his offer, but Elizabeth never gave him an opportunity; and there was an end of his uncertainties when she said one day to his sister (after receiving an announcement of her own approaching marriage to Mr. Forbes), “And there is nothing now to stand between your brother and Miss Julia Gardiner.  I am truly glad grandpapa left him an independence, they have been so faithful to each other.”

Miss Burleigh looked up surprised, as if she thought Bessie must be laughing at them.  And Bessie was laughing.  “Not quite constant perhaps, but certainly faithful,” she persisted.  But Mr. Cecil Burleigh had probably appreciated her blossoming youth more kindly than his dear Julia had appreciated her autumnal widower.  Bessie meant to convey that neither had any right to complain of the other, and that was true.  Miss Burleigh carried Miss Fairfax’s remarks to her brother, and after that they were privately agreed that it would be poor Julia after all.

Mr. Laurence Fairfax insisted that his niece should live at Abbotsmead, and continue in possession of the white suite until she was of age.  He was her guardian, and would take no denial.

“It wants but three months to that date,” she told him.