Dick shook his head. "I don't know," he said. "Nobody does. I don't know just how she feels toward Sally. If it were Charlie, now,--but it isn't. About these properties, you will have to see Sally. She isn't at liberty to dispose of them yet, but if she agrees to, there will be no difficulty. I shall not stand in the way of your doing anything you want to do with them. It happens that the lease of them runs out in a few months. I really don't believe that Miss Patty will contest the will, even if she doesn't just like it. Mr. Hazen's word was the law, you know." Fox was looking out of the window and, as he looked, his glance chanced to fall upon Miss Patty herself, stepping along in a way which she had fondly flattered herself was dainty. He smiled. "You never can tell about these nervous patients," he observed. "They may do anything--or they may not. But I think I'd better see Sally and break the news." He found the chance on the evening of that same day. Everett went out, immediately after dinner, as was his habit, and Mrs. Morton left them alone. Sally was reading. "Sally," said Fox, "I understand that you are an heiress." Sally put down her book suddenly and gave him a startled glance. "Oh," she exclaimed, "I hope not! Who told you?" "Dick Torrington. He is the executor." "Oh, Fox!" she cried. She seemed dismayed. "And Dick knows. But Patty will never forgive me. Can't I help it?" "No doubt," he replied, smiling, "but I hope you won't, for I want to buy some of your property." She laughed joyously. "I'll give it to you, you mercenary man! At last, Fox, I can get even with you--but only partly," she hastened to add; "only partly. Please say that you'll let me give it to you." Fox was embarrassed. "Bless you, Sally!" he said. At that moment, he was very near to heeding Mrs. Ladue's injunction not to wait too long. He stopped in time. "Bless you, Sally! You have paid me. I don't need money anyway." "Neither do I." "The time may come when you will. It is a handy thing to have," he went on. "I promise to let you pay me some day," he added hastily, seeing that she was about to insist, "in kind." Sally nodded with satisfaction. "I'll do it," she said, "in kind. That usually means potatoes and corn and firewood, doesn't it." "Not this time, it doesn't. But I can't let you think of giving me these places." "You can't help my thinking of giving them to you," she interrupted. "For you don't even know what they are," Fox continued. "I didn't mean to tell you yet, but I have to." And he told her what he wanted to do; but only a part. It is to be noted that he said nothing about gynesauruses and coal-trees. When he had finished Sally sighed. "It's too bad that I can't give them to you, Fox. I think it would be a very good way; an excellent way." "Excellent?" he asked. "Yes, excellent," Sally answered, looking at him and smiling in her amused way. "Why isn't it?"