To that warm heart, which had never had half enough of its ties whereon to expend itself and its wealth of generosity, it was perfectly delicious to see the sick soldier daily gaining health by riding the Cairnforth horses, shooting over the moors, or fishing in the lochs.  Never had the earl so keenly enjoyed his own wealth, and the blessings it enabled him to lavish abroad; never in his lifetime had he looked so thoroughly contented.

“Helen,” he said one day, when she had come up for an hour or two to the Castle, and then as usual, Captain Bruce had taken the opportunity of riding out—­he owned he found Miss Cardross’s company and conversation “slow”—­“Helen, that young man looks stronger and better every day.  What a bright-looking fellow he is!  It does one good to see him.”  And the earl followed with his eyes the graceful steed and equally graceful rider, caracoling in front of the Castle window.

Helen said nothing.

“I think,” he continued, “that the next best thing to being happy one’s self is to be able to make other people so.  Perhaps that may be the sort of happiness they have in the next world.  I often speculate about it, and wonder what sort of creature I shall find myself there.  But.” added he, abruptly, “now to business.  You will be my secretary this morning instead of Bruce?”

“Willingly;” for, though she too, like Malcolm, had been a little displaced by this charming cousin, there was not an atom of jealousy in her nature.  Hers was that pure and unselfish affection which could bear to stand by and see those she loved made happy, even though it was by another than herself.

She fell to work in her old way, and the earl employed as much as he required her ready handwriting, her clear head, and her full acquaintance with every body and every thing in the district; for Helen was a real minister’s daughter—­as popular and as necessary in the parish as the minister himself; and she was equally important at the Castle, where she was consulted, as this morning, on every thing Lord Cairnforth was about to do, and on the wisest way of expending—­he did not wish to save—­the large yearly income which he now seemed really beginning to enjoy.

Helen, too, after a long morning’s work, drew her breath with a sigh of pleasure.

“What a grand thing it is to be as rich as you are!”

“Why so?”

“One can do such a deal of good with plenty of money.”

“Yes.  Should you like to be very rich, Helen?” watching her with an amused look.

Helen shook her head and laughed.  “Oh, it’s no use asking me the question, for I shall never have the chance of being rich.”

“You can not say; you might marry, for instance.”

“That is not likely.  Papa could never do without me; besides, as the folk say, I’m ‘no bonnie, ye ken.’  But,” speaking more seriously, “indeed, I never think of marrying.  If it is to be it will be; if not, I am quite happy as I am.  And for money, can I not always come to you whenever I want it?  You supply me endlessly for my poor people.  And, as Captain Bruce was saying to papa the other night, you are a perfect mine of gold—­and of generosity.”