Lord Bannerdale charges me to tell you what his good wife has already written you--that a home awaits you at the Court, where you will be received gladly and lovingly; and I am quite sure that the door of every house in the dale is wide open for you." Ida shrank in her chair.

Clothe the offer as kindly as he might, it spelt Charity, not cold charity, but charity still: and what Heron had ever tamely accepted charity from mere friends and strangers?
Mr.
Wordley saw the shrinking, the little shudder, and understood.
"I understand, my dear!" he said, in a low voice.

"But there is another offer, another home which you can accept without humiliation or compunction.

Your cousin, Mr.John Heron here, will, I am sure, be only too glad, too delighted to--to--" He waited and glanced at Mr.Heron impatiently, and at last that gentleman rose, but not too eagerly, to the occasion.
"I need scarcely say," he said, slowly and solemnly, "that I should not approve of my cousin's accepting these offers of charity, which, though no doubt kindly meant, appear to me somewhat--er--obtrusive.

I am not a wealthy man; my simple home cannot compare in size and grandeur with Heron Hall and the estate which my late unfortunate cousin appears to have squandered, but such as it is, Ida will be welcome in it.