"No, no! of course not," said her companion impatiently; "but one never knows what might happen. But suppose he did die, you would be an heiress no doubt."
Kaituna shook her head.
"I don't think so," she replied, slowly. "You see, Thornstream is entailed on the male side, and none of it comes to me."
"But your father was well enough off in New Zealand."
"Why, how do you know that?"
"I don't know, dear," answered Mrs. Belswin hurriedly, seeing she had made a slip; "I only presume so."
"He used to be well off, but he lost a lot of money lately, and this time when he went out he sold all his property."
"Oh!" said Mrs. Belswin, drawing a long breath of relief, "then he will have a large sum of money in hand."
"No, indeed! He has put it all into silver mining shares in Melbourne."
"The fool!" muttered Mrs. Belswin, below her breath, "to risk his all in such security."