MrFairlie，theelder，diedandleftthreesons，Philip，Frederick，andArthur。Aseldestson，Philipsucceededtotheestate。Ifhediedwithoutleavingason，thepropertywenttothesecondbrother，Frederick；andifFrederickdiedalsowithoutleavingason，thepropertywenttothethirdbrother，Arthur。
Aseventsturnedout，MrPhilipFairliediedleavinganonlydaughter，theLauraofthisstory，andtheestate，inconsequence，went，incourseoflaw，tothesecondbrother，frederick，asingleman。Thethirdbrother，Arthur，haddiedmanyyearsbeforethedeceaseofPhilip，leavingasonandadaughter。Theson，attheageofeighteen，wasdrownedatOxford。
HisdeathleftLaura，thedaughterofMrPhilipFairlie，presumptiveheiresstotheestate，witheverychanceofsucceedingtoit，intheordinarycourseofnature，onheruncleFrederick’sdeath，ifthesaidFrederickdiedwithoutleavingmaleissue。
Exceptintheevent，then，ofMrFrederickFairlie’smarryingandleavinganheirthetwoverylastthingsintheworldthathewaslikelytodo，hisniece，Laura，wouldhavethepropertyonhisdeath，possessing，itmustberemembered，nothingmorethanalife-interestinit。Ifshediedsingle，ordiedchildless，theestatewouldreverttohercousin，Magdalen，thedaughterofMrArthurFairlie。Ifshemarried，withapropersettlement——or，inotherwords，withthesettlementImeanttomakeforher——theincomefromtheestateagoodthreethousandayearwould，duringherlifetime，beatherowndisposal。Ifshediedbeforeherhusband，hewouldnaturallyexpecttobeleftintheenjoymentoftheincome，forhislifetime。
Ifshehadason，thatsonwouldbetheheir，totheexclusionofhercousinMagdalen。Thus，SirPercival’sprospectsinmarryingMissFairliesofarashiswife’sexpectationsfromrealpropertywereconcernedpromisedhimthesetwoadvantages，onMrFrederickFairlie’sdeath：First，theuseofthreethousandayearbyhiswife’spermission，whileshelived，andinhisownright，onherdeath，ifhesurvivedher；and，secondly，theinheritanceofLimmeridgeforhisson，ifhehadone。