"I did not know Aunt Delia had the spirit of prophecy."
"She has! You know Cousin Seaton Hamilton lives in the Argentine?"
"I thought he found living rather a difficulty."
"Mother always said he would make a fortune and think of us, and he has! So nice, too, he won't say it's him. Just imagine a present of two hundred pounds for each of us, to go and study music in Germany!"
"Oh, Lewis, you don't believe it! Look for yourself!" She held out her letter which certainly contained a draft for two hundred pounds. Jeanie walked in with a similar letter in her hand.
"Isn't it lovely? Imagine such a thing happening to us!"
"Seaton Hamilton must have found a gold mine! When was the last time he wrote to you?"
"It was just when--Jeanie was playing with----" Maud left off, she must not mention the discarded lover, but Jeanie blushed as she murmured,
"Mother is always right! She said he would remember us when he was rich, and he has."
Mrs. Hamilton and Miss Honoria entered together, and there was a chorus from the girls whilst Lewis stood by the fire smiling.
"Really, Delia, this is the first time I have known your prophecy to come true. And he puts it nicely," said Miss Honoria.
"I wonder he doesn't sign his name," said Lewis.
"So full of good feeling. He always admired you two girls so much," said their mother.
"Poor Seaton, money was always like water in his hands."
"Nonsense, Lewis, he never had any, so your simile is quite wrong, but I always said he _would_ make money some day, and would remember the girls."
"Let's eat our breakfast in his honour then," said Lewis, sitting down. "Shall you accept it, Jeanie?"
"We must thank him first; but isn't it tiresome there is no address except that of the Argentine lawyer?" said Maud.
"You must thank him then," said Lewis, "he'll pass it on."
"I think Lewis does not half believe," said Jeanie.
"I believe in the money as the cheque looks good enough; to me the miracle seems to be in Seaton. He never could make money, and wasn't very generous."
"How could he be on nothing? Poor Seaton! I always believed in him," repeated Mrs. Hamilton, "but I don't think Maud can go to Germany just now."
They discussed this some time when suddenly Lewis exclaimed,
"Why there is Toney cantering across the park! You must tell her of your good fortune." Lewis went to the front door to warn her. She ran up the steps leaving Jim to hold the horses, and Lewis thought he had never seen her looking so happy.