I could think of no suitable reply; so merely said, “yes.”

“It’s a tradition among their acquaintances that the Winthrops believe in getting the very best possible good out of everything.”

“Have they succeeded?”

“Better than the generality of folks; but they have come pretty near extinction, at least on this side the water.  Mr. Winthrop is the last of his race.”

“Has he no children?”

“He is a bachelor.”

“But he may have children and a wife some day.”

“You will probably be his heir, if he does not marry, I believe he is your heir by your father’s will, in case you die without heirs.”

I laughed merrily.  “He will outlive me probably.  What good would his money do me if I were old, or maybe dead?”

“Your children might enjoy it.”

I wondered was it customary in this country to speculate on such remote possibilities, but said nothing.  We soon reached the house, which stood on ground elevated to command a magnificent view of the sea, the distant headlands, and a wide stretch of hill and dale.  The house itself reminded me more of old world buildings than any I had yet seen in America; and, on the spot, I took a fancy to it, and felt that here I could easily cultivate the home feeling, without which I should still be a wanderer on the earth.  Mrs. Flaxman was standing to receive me as I ascended the granite steps that led to the main entrance.  The great stone house had wings at either end while deep breaks in the heavy masonry of the walls occurred at regular intervals, and heavy pillars of granite made a massive background for this fair, slight woman as I looked at her.

“I will commit Miss Selwyn to your care, mother, while I take a little longer drive with Faery,” my companion said, graciously.

“I will accept your trust with a great deal of pleasure, Hubert,” she said, receiving me with a cordiality that warmed my heart.  “You are very welcome home.  At least, I hope you will feel at home here.”

“I have no other, now that I have left school,” I said, gravely.

“Young ladies do not often waste much sentiment on their boarding-school home, so I think we shall succeed in making you content here with us at Oaklands.”

“I have always been accustomed to find my own sources of content.  We were left at school to amuse ourselves or not, as we willed.”

“But I hope we shall not be so indifferent to your pleasure.  Mr. Winthrop is not much of a society man, but we still see a good many visitors.”

The main entrance of the house was finer than anything I had remembered to have seen, and at first I felt quite oppressed by the grandeur of my surroundings; but when Mrs. Flaxman had conducted me to my own room, its dainty furnishings and appointments made it appear to me, after the plain accommodations of the school, a perfect bower for any maiden.  I went to one of the deep windows and looked out over the splendid stretch of land and sea scape spread before me.  Drawing a long sigh of perfect content, I exclaimed:  “I know I shall be happy here.  How could I help it, with such pictures to look at?”