But she strove to control herself after a moment, and invited the gentleman to be seated, when he immediately broached the subject of his call.

“Perhaps you are aware, Miss Montague,” he began, “that Mr. Dinsmore, on the morning of his death, tried to make his will, in which he stated his wish to leave you all his property; but he was unable to sign it; consequently the document cannot stand, according to law.  I was somewhat surprised,” Mr. Graves continued, looking thoughtful, “at his excessive anxiety and distress regarding the matter, as he had previously given me to understand that you were his only living relative.  Still he might only have wished to make assurance doubly sure.  Do you know of any heirs beside yourself?”

“No,” Mona answered, “he had no relatives as near to him as I. There are, I believe, one or two distant cousins residing somewhere in the South.”

“Then you are of course the sole heir, and will have the whole of his handsome fortune—­the will would only have been a matter of form.  Mr. Dinsmore was a very rich man, Miss Montague, and I congratulate you upon being the heiress to a large fortune,” the lawyer continued, with hearty sincerity in his tone.

But Mona looked, up at him with streaming eyes.

“Oh! but I would rather have my uncle back than all the wealth of the world!” she cried, with quivering lips.

“True.  I know that your loss is irreparable—­one that no amount of money can make up to you,” was the kind and sympathetic response.  Then the man returned to business again, “But—­do you mind telling me your age, Miss Montague?”

“I was eighteen the day before my uncle died,” the stricken girl replied, with a keen heart-pang, as she recalled that eventful day.

“You are very young to have care of so much property,” said the lawyer, gravely.  “What would be your wish as to the management of it?  You ought really to have a guardian for the next few years.  If you will designate some one whom you would wish, and could trust to act as such, I will gladly assist in putting Mr. Dinsmore’s affair in convenient shape for him.”

“You are very good, Mr. Graves,” Mona thoughtfully returned.  Then she added, wistfully:  “Why cannot you act as my guardian?  I know of no one in whom I have so much confidence.  Uncle Walter trusted you, and surely there can be no one who understands his affairs as well as you do.”

The man’s face lighted at this evidence of her trust in him.

“Thank you, Miss Mona,” he said.  “It is of course gratifying to me to know that you desire this, and I really think that Mr. Dinsmore would have suggested such an arrangement had he been able to do so; but of course I felt delicate about proposing it.  Walter Dinsmore was a dear and valued friend, as well as my client, and, believe me, I feel a deep interest in you, for his sake, as well as your own.  I will accept the trust, and do the best I can for you, my child, thanking you again heartily for your confidence in me.”