The house had been bought—at least, the father supposed so—not knowing that but a small payment had been made, with a promise to pay the balance soon after the marriage. The young man had laid his plans nicely, and meant to profess that some investment of his had failed, making it impossible for him to make the final payments, and that he had disliked to postpone the marriage or to tell of his predicament, feeling sure that he would have the money by the time the payment was due. Naturally, his wife’s fortune would suffice to pay for the house, which of course she would not let go then. If the house was not exactly what he had described to the little school-girl, certainly it was large enough and showy enough to make up for the lack of some of the things which had seemed important to her; and he had taken care that it should be so far from the home of her father that the latter could keep no eye on his son-in-law’s business affairs. If all went well, he intended to have his wife’s fortune in his own hands before their first year of married life should have passed. After that it would not matter to him whether the girl was pleased with her home or not. She could no longer help herself. But of all this the father suspected nothing. Dawn took no interest in her clothes. The step-mother was chagrined that after all her efforts Dawn was not pleased. "I should think you might show a little gratitude, after all the trouble I’ve taken," Mrs. Van Rensselaer snapped angrily. Dawn turned wide eyes of astonishment upon her. "For what?" she asked. "I didn’t want the things. I supposed you did it to please father." "Didn’t want them!" exclaimed her step-mother. "And how would you expect to get married without them?" "I don’t want to be married!" said Dawn desperately, and then closed her lips tightly, with a frightened look toward the door. She had not meant to let any one know that. The words had come of themselves out of her weary heart. "Well, upon my word! You’re the queerest girl! Any other girl in the world would be in high feather over your chances; but you always were the stubbornest, most contrary creature that ever drew breath. Whatever did you say you’d get married for if you didn’t want to?" "I don’t think I ever did," said the girl sadly. "It just came in spite of me." "That’s all foolishness. Don’t talk such things to me. No girl has to be married unless she chooses, and I’ll warrant you had your hand in it from the start. Besides, it’s too late to talk of such things now. It wouldn’t be honorable to draw back now, after he’s got the house bought and all." "I know it," said Dawn miserably, and stood looking out the window blindly, swallowing hard to keep back the tears. She felt that she must have reached the limit of her endurance when she would let her step-mother see her state of mind. Mrs. Van Rensselaer eyed her keenly, suspiciously. At last she ventured another question.