It was a melancholy meal; for most of those present were thinking of the orphan girl in her room above.

They spoke in lowered voices of the dead man and of the great family from which he had sprung, and recalled stories of the wealth and lavishness of past Herons; and when the meal was over, there suddenly fell a silence, and all eyes were turned upon Mr.Wordley; for the moment had arrived for the reading and expounding of the will.
Mr.Wordley rose, coughed, and wiped his eye-glasses, and looked round gravely.
"As the legal adviser of my late client, Mr.Godfrey Heron, I have to inform you, gentlemen, that there is no will.

My client died intestate." The listeners exchanged glances, and looked grave and concerned.
"No will ?" said Lord Bannerdale, anxiously; then his kindly face cleared.

"But of course everything goes to his daughter; the estate is not entailed ?" Mr.Wordley inclined his head.
"The estate is not entailed, as you observed, Lord Bannerdale; and my client, Miss Ida Heron, inherits everything." They drew a breath of relief, and nodded assentingly; and presently they made a general movement of departure.

Lord Bannerdale lingered behind the others.