"I don't know--any one, or anything," Walter said. "Come, that is going too far," said the other, with a laugh. "I presume you don't care for society. That is a young man's notion; but society is not so bad a thing. It never answers to withdraw from it altogether. Yes, Katie is an heiress. She is to have all the Loch Houran property, I believe, besides a good deal of money." "I thought," said Walter, "there were several sons." "One--one only; and he has the business, with the addition also of a good deal of money. Money is a wonderful quality--it stands instead of a great many other things to our friends there. I am fond of intellect myself, but it must be allowed that the most cultivated mind would not do for any man what his money does at once for that good neighbour of ours--who is a most excellent fellow all the same." "I have met him for the first time to-day," said Walter, "in the most accidental way." "Ah! I thought you had known them; but it is true what I say. I look upon money with a certain awe. It is inscrutable. The most perfect of artists--you and I when we most look up to them, do also just a little look down upon them! No, perhaps that is too strong. At all events, they are there on sufferance. They are not of us, and they know it. Whether they care for us too much, or whether they don't care at all, there is still that uneasy consciousness. But with this good-natured millionnaire, nothing of the sort. He has no such feeling." "Perhaps because his feelings are not so keen. Miss Williamson has just been telling me what you say--that her family are considered not vulgar because they never pretend to be better than they are." "Ah!" cried Lord Innishouran, startled, "did Katie divine that? She is cleverer than I thought--and a very fine fortune, and an ambitious little person. I hope her money will go to consolidate some property at home, and not fall into a stranger's hands. I am all for the Highlands, you see, Erradeen." "And I know so little about them," said Walter.