“I can not understand why any one should have thought it necessary to send you,” said Aimée. “It is a new thing that what I do should be considered of importance by any one.” Then there was a moment’s silence. It was impossible for Mr. Percy Joscelyn--which was this young gentleman’s name--to deny that it was indeed a very new thing for Aimée’s actions to be of importance in the opinion of her family. Her repeated assertion that it did not matter to any one what she did was founded on most undeniable fact, or had been a short time before. And if all was changed now, if her actions had suddenly become of very great importance, it was for a reason difficult to state when thus confronted with what yesterday had been the truth. Fortunately, a diversion occurred at this point which relieved him from the inconvenience of answering her remark. The door opened and Mrs. Berrien entered. “Why, Percy, how do you do?” she said. “This is a great surprise.” “Yes,” said young Joscelyn, as they shook hands, “I suppose so. But I have come for Aimée.” “Indeed!” said Mrs. Berrien, looking as much surprised as Aimée herself. “What is the matter? Is her mother ill?” “No, my stepmother is in very good health,” was the reply. “But it is necessary that Aimée should go home. There has been--ahem!--a great change in her circumstances.” “In her circumstances!” repeated Mrs. Berrien, while Aimée’s eyes grew wide and startled. “What has happened?” “She has inherited a fortune,” said the young man in tones of such solemnity as the announcement warranted. “_Aimée_--inherited a fortune!” cried Mrs. Berrien. If he had announced that Aimée had suddenly been transformed into a royal princess it could hardly have seemed to her more incredible. “You are surely mistaken.” Percy Joscelyn smiled with an air of superior knowledge. “In such matters there is not much room for mistake,” he said. “You have heard, I presume, of Henry Dunstan?” “My brother’s half-brother--my stepmother’s son by another marriage? Of course. But he went to South America and died years ago.” “On the contrary, he died only last month; and, having lost his wife and only child, he made a will just before he died leaving his fortune to the children of his half-brother, Edward Vincent, of whom, as you know, Aimée is the only child.” “My dear Aimée, this is indeed a change for you!” exclaimed Mrs. Berrien, turning and embracing the startled girl with honest warmth. “I am as pleased as if a fortune had been left to myself. Now I need feel no more anxiety about your future.” “I shall never forget who was the only person who ever did feel any,” said Aimée, clinging to her as though some danger threatened.