"I should like to explain to you, my dear, that I am not as rich a woman as I appear. It was my dear husband's wish that I should continue to occupy this house for the term of my life, but after that it passes to his relations. It is an expensive place to keep up, and leaves little margin out of the income which goes with it. I cannot save as I should have wished, and my own property is not large. When it is divided among my various nephews and nieces, there will not be much for each. I should like to have done more for your father, as he has a large family to provide for, but it is impossible. In your case, however, you have done me a kindness in spending these weeks with me when I needed companionship--and, I think, we are good friends! I can spare a few hundreds to give you your training _and_ your fun--and it will be a pleasure to me to do so. I will make a formal arrangement in my will so that in the case of my--so that in any case the money may be forthcoming. So, my dear, you may look upon the matter as settled, and make your arrangements accordingly." Darsie put her hands to her head. Her cheeks were white, but around her eyes and nose an increasing pinkness of hue betrayed the inward struggle of emotion. "I'm going to cry! I'm going to cry!" she cried. And when Lady Hayes began a protest, "Oh, Aunt Maria, don't, _don't_ be proper!" she pleaded piteously. "I can't bear it just now. Please, please let me thank you in my own way! I must howl! I _must_! I'm all seething and churning with emotion, and if I don't cry I shall burst; but oh, I _do_ love you--I adore you--I shall worship you until my dying day... You'll be like a saint to me. I'll put you up on a pedestal and burn incense to you every day of my life. If you _knew_ what it meant! And I've been so mean and hateful--such a contemptible little worm! Oh, if I lived a hundred thousand years, I could never repay you for this!" "My dear, does it strike you that you are talking in a very wild, exaggerated fashion?" "I am, I am! Girls _do_, Aunt Maria, when they are off their heads with joy. Wild, I mean, not exaggerated--I mean it, every word. Oh, I _must_ hug you. Never mind your cap; I must give you a bear hug, if I die for it. Dear, dearest, kindest, best--"