"It is not that!" I exclaimed. "No, I am not. I am not - I shall not be a great heiress, or an heiress at all, I think. Christian is richer than I."
"My dear!" said Miss Cardigan. "Christian never said a word to me about it, but your friend Mrs. Sandford - she told me; she told me you would be one of the richest women in your State."
"She thought so," - I said.
"My dear, your parents are very wealthy; and they have only one other child, Mrs. Sandford told me. I remember, for it took me with a pity at my heart, little Daisy, for you."
"Yes, they are wealthy," I said; "and Ransom, my brother, is the only other one. He will be rich. But I shall not."
"Do you mean he is the favourite?" said Miss Cardigan.
"Oh, no!" I said. "At least, if he is, so am I. It isn't that. But I shall never be an heiress, Miss Cardigan. I shall be very poor, I rather think."
I smiled at her as I said these words - they were upon the first pleasant subject that had been touched for some time between us; and Miss Cardigan looked quite bewildered. I remembered she had good reason; and I thought it was right, though very much against my will, to explain my words.
"You know what makes my father and mother rich?" I said.
"My dear!" said Miss Cardigan - "They have large Southern properties."