CHAPTER TWOShe gasped. "How wonderful, how marvellous for you. Surely you are very excited." There was silence for a moment before John answered, "Not exactly. It may sound very thrilling to you, but the last Duke had a passion for helping people who were ill or depressed and having them to stay in the castle. In a great many cases he paid their bills." She gave a cry of delight. "I have heard all about your uncle, Papa used to say how kind and generous he was, but how badly he was treated for all he did. He said the Duke's family were always scolding him for spending his money on strangers rather than on them." "Really?" said John, a little awkwardly. "Papa said he was an exceptionally kindly man." "I suppose that is what he was," John replied. "But his family suffered because he