"You speak of her as Lady Corsoon?"
"Naturally, since I am not her niece," said Ida simply. "When she leaves The Grange I shall be delighted to come."
Colonel Towton flushed through his tan. "I am a bachelor, Ida," he said in stiff tones. "You can't come to my house without a lady is staying there. That is unless you will marry me at once."
Ida placed her two hands on his shoulders and looked at him kindly through her tears. "If you will take a girl without a sixpence, I shall marry you as soon as you please, Richard."
"Don't put his chivalry to the test, Ida," remarked Frances in somewhat acrid tones. "Colonel Towton knows that you have ten thousand a year."
"But if this story is true----"
"It's quite true, only there is a will."
"A will?" Ida stared and flushed with pleasure. "Then poor Mr. Dimsdale did not entirely forget me."
"He did not forget you at all. I found this will--well it doesn't matter where, since I explained everything to our friend here last night. But you inherit the Dimsdale property as Ida Menteith, so Lady Corsoon will not be able to strip you of your worldly goods."
"Oh!"--Ida grew even more scarlet--"then, Richard----"