Being determined not to see Sir Rupert until after dinner, in order to discover in the meantime how the land lay, she went up to her own room and sent for Kaituna, who was delighted to see her.
"Now you are here," said the girl kissing her friend, "you may perhaps induce papa to let me marry Archie. You know----"
"I know all about it, my dear," replied Mrs. Belswin, with a maternal air; "Mr. Maxwell met me at the railway station, and put me in full possession of all the facts."
"And do you think papa will let me marry him?" asked Kaituna, timidly.
"I really cannot tell, dear, until I see your papa."
"No-o," responded Mrs. Belswin, doubtfully; "I'm tired after my journey, so I'll have my dinner here. Afterwards I will ask for an interview with Sir Rupert, so you and your papa can dine _tête-à-tête_."
"No, I'm sure we can't," said Kaituna, in rather a tone of relief; "Mr. Dombrain is here."
"Dombrain!" she echoed aghast. "Your father's solicitor."
"Now what does he want here, I wonder?" muttered Mrs. Belswin, more to herself than to her auditor.
"He came down to make papa's will, I think," said Kaituna.
"His will!" echoed Mrs. Belswin, struck with a sudden thought. "Kaituna, if your father dies, will he leave you well off?"
"No, no! of course not," said her companion impatiently; "but one never knows what might happen. But suppose he did die, you would be an heiress no doubt."
"I don't think so," she replied, slowly. "You see, Thornstream is entailed on the male side, and none of it comes to me."
"But your father was well enough off in New Zealand."
"I don't know, dear," answered Mrs. Belswin hurriedly, seeing she had made a slip; "I only presume so."
"He used to be well off, but he lost a lot of money lately, and this time when he went out he sold all his property."
"Oh!" said Mrs. Belswin, drawing a long breath of relief, "then he will have a large sum of money in hand."
"No, indeed! He has put it all into silver mining shares in Melbourne."
"The fool!" muttered Mrs. Belswin, below her breath, "to risk his all in such security."
"So you see, dear Mrs. Belswin," said Kaituna, pursuing her own train of thought, "that if Archie wants to marry me for my money, I shall not have any."
Mrs. Belswin caught the girl in her arms and kissed her with rare tenderness.