Yet still there were many who regarded these rumours as the mere whisperings of envy, and with them he was as much a favourite as ever.

Amongst these was Annie Grahame, whose marked preference more than atoned to the Viscount for her father's coldness.

In vain Grahame commanded that his daughter should change her manner towards him.

She, who had prevailed on a daughter to disobey this very mandate from the lips of an indulgent parent, was not likely to regard that of the father whose sternness and often uncalled-for severity had completely alienated her affections, and Lord Alphingham had now another urgent reason to flatter Annie's vanity and make her his own.
A distant relation and godmother of Lady Helen Grahame had, most unexpectedly, left her at her death sole heiress to a handsome fortune, which was to descend undivided to her elder daughter, and thus to Annie's other attractions was now added that all-omnipotent charm, the knowledge that she was an heiress, not perhaps to any very large property, but quite sufficient to most agreeably enlarge the fortune of any gentleman who would venture to take her for better or worse.

One would have supposed that now every wish of this aspiring young lady was gratified; but no.