He has left me all the duties and responsibilities of his estate," Kendal went on, with sudden gloom.

"The Lord only knows what I'll do with them." "That makes it sadder," said the girl.
"I should think it did," Kendal replied; and then their eyes met, and they laughed the healthy instinctive laugh of youth when it is asked to mourn fatuously, which is always a little cruel.
"I hope," said Elfrida quickly, "that he has not saddled you with a title.

An estate is bad enough, but with a title added it would ruin you.

You would never do any more good work, I am sure--sure.

People would get at you--you would take to rearing farm creatures from a sense of duty--you might go into Parliament.