But, as they were returning home, Calista adverted to it again. "Do you suppose, Mary, that the place really was left to me, and that Aunt Priscilla is keeping me out of it?" "No," answered Nary; "I am quite sure I have heard my father say that nobody knew Mr. Stanfield had a child, till Miss Druett brought you home. But if you want to know about the matter, you had better ask father himself. Only, Calista, if I were you, I would try not to think so much about money. If you are not careful, you will come to be as fond of it as poor Miss Priscilla herself." "I don't think I am fond of money," said Calista, looking a little offended. "But you do think about it a great deal, Calista; you cannot deny that." "And wouldn't you if you were in my place?" "I should be tempted to, no doubt," said Mary, honestly; "but I should try not to give way to it, because I should not feel it right." "Why not?" "Because covetousness is sin," returned Mary. "The Bible says covetousness is idolatry (Col. 3:5); and speaks of 'the covetous, whom God abhorreth' (Ps. 10:3); and our Lord himself bids us 'take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth' (Luke 12:15). Moreover, we are told not to love the world, neither the things which are in the world, because if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15)." "If you were in my place, you couldn't help thinking about it," persisted Calista, "any more than you could help thinking about food if you didn't have enough to eat." "I suppose Miss Priscilla thinks she can't help it either." "I am much obliged to you, Mary, for comparing me to Miss Priscilla!" said Calista, with offended stiffness. "I didn't know, before, what a good opinion you had of me." "Now you are unreasonable, Calista, and I sha'n't answer you." "But about this matter of grandfather's will: do you think it is unreasonable in me to want to know the truth about it?" "No, I don't, especially after what you have heard, and if I were you, I would ask papa; only, Calista, don't build upon it." But Calista could not help building upon it. She had no opportunity of asking Judge Settson about the matter, for company came in to spend the evening, and the next day he was called away out of town. But Calista held firmly to her purpose. CHAPTER FOURTH. CASSIUS.