She fully recognised even the propriety of such an arrangement.

But it seemed to her that the squire was almost guilty of hypocrisy in naming his nephew and his two nieces together, as though they were the joint heirs of his love.

Bernard was his adopted son, and no one had begrudged to the uncle the right of making such adoption.

Bernard was everything to him, and as being his heir was bound to obey him in many things.

But her daughters were no more to him than any nieces might be to any uncle.