But in the midst of her joy she could not help feeling something of sadness and pity for Josephine and her disappointed hopes. It was no light thing to have loved and lost such a man as this, and she would gladly have comforted her had it been in her power to do so. “Uncle Jacob,” she said, more timidly than she was in the habit of addressing him, the next time she was alone with him, “I shall have so much money, now that I am to be mistress of Halowell Park, and—and when Archie takes me,” she added, with a burning blush, “that I wish you would make another will, and give your fortune, or a part of it at least, to your ‘nearest of kin.’” “You are my nearest of kin,” he said, briefly. “I know what you mean,” she replied, affectionately; “our hearts _are_ surely akin; but—I really am _very_ sorry for Mrs. Richards and Josephine, not to mention poor Mr. Richards, who has had such a hard time of it; and perhaps they would feel more kindly toward me if they thought I did not care for so much money, and truly I do not—I never can use it all.” Jacob Rosevelt looked at her with tears in his eyes. “My darling,” he said, with emotion, “I believe you have the heart of a saint, but I cannot alter my will—everything I have belongs to you; but I leave you free to do whatever you choose with it. If you ever find people in need and wish to help them, give them what you like; but I shall never break the seal of my will. Child,” he added, tremblingly, “you have been all the world to me; and more than this, you have helped me to find hope for the world to come. I know that you will have a great deal of money without mine, but it shall be yours nevertheless; I know that it will not be used selfishly, and I cannot leave it in better hands.” He bent down and touched her forehead with his lips, and then left her, but her heart was filled with a song of praise. “You have helped me to find hope for the world to come,” he had said; and there never had been a sweeter message sent in answer to prayer, she thought. For a long time, she had noticed, he had been more respectful whenever the name of the Deity had been uttered in his presence, while, when he had accompanied her to Sabbath services, he had listened attentively, even reverently to what was said. Looking back to that dark night on the angry waters, when she had first met him, and remembering his sneers at her trust in the “All Father,” and his bitter, skeptical retorts, she was surprised at the change that had gradually come over him; and now, to her amazement, he had confessed to a “hope” for eternity. It was the one drop too many in her cup of joy, and it instantly overflowed in happy, thankful tears, and in a low-voiced pean of gratitude. * * * * * A month, Lord Carrol said, was all the time that he could allow his fair bride-elect to prepare to become Lady Carrol. “But I have so much to do!” Star objected, with crimson cheeks.