Couldn't we build a church, and
you mind them, Papa?"
"My little Katharine, you have yet to understand that 'the heir, so
long as he is a child, differeth in nothing from a servant, but is
under tutors and governors.' You will not have any power over
yourself or your property till you are twenty-one."
"But you are my tutor and my governor, and my spiritual pastor and
master," said Kate. "I always say so whenever Mary asks us questions
about our duty to our neighbour."
"I have been so hitherto," said Mr. Wardour, setting her on his knee;
"but I see I must explain a good deal to you. It is the business of
a court in London, that is called the Court of Chancery, to provide
that proper care is taken of young heirs and heiresses and their
estates, if no one have been appointed by their parents to do so; and
it is this court that must settle what is to become of you."
"And why won't it settle that I may live with my own papa and
brothers and sisters?"
"Because, Kate, you must be brought up in a way to fit your station;
and my children must be brought up in a way to fit theirs. And
besides," he added more sadly, "nobody that could help it would leave
a girl to be brought up in a household without a mother."
Kate's heart said directly, that as she could never again have a
mother, her dear Mary must be better than a stranger; but somehow any
reference to the sorrow of the household always made her anxious to
get away from the subject, so she looked at her finger again, and
asked, "Then am I to live up in this Court of Chances?"
"Not exactly," said Mr.
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