“He told me it was his _wish_, and I shall give Earle the money,” Editha answered, firmly. “You will _not_,” asserted Mr. Dalton, positively. “Papa, do you know how much I am worth in all?” “A hundred and seventy-five thousand strong—a handsome fortune, a _very_ handsome fortune for a young girl like you to possess,” he said, rubbing his hands together with an air of satisfaction, as if he expected to reap no little benefit from the said fortune himself. “That is more than Uncle Richard thought, owing, no doubt, to the successful sale of that block I did not wish to keep and Mr. Felton advised me to sell. Uncle Richard told me there would be more than a hundred and fifty thousand; but you see I have nearly twenty-five thousand more than he expected; and, even after giving Earle what he wished, I shall have more than he thought.” “What nonsense, child!” “It is not nonsense. The money was set apart for him, and I should be a thief and a robber not to do with it as I was bidden. I have promised, and I shall fulfill,” Editha returned, steadfastly. “Not with _my_ consent, miss,” Mr. Dalton cried, hotly. “Then it will have to be done without it,” she answered, sadly. “That cannot be; you are under age; you are only nineteen, and it will be more than a year before you are free to act upon your own authority. Meantime, I am your legal guardian, and you can transfer no property without my consent,” her father replied, triumphantly. “Is that so?” Editha asked, with a startled look. “That is so, according to the law of this State.” “Papa, you cannot mean what you say. You _must_ allow me to do this thing; you would not be so dishonorable as to withhold this money from Earle when it is really his. He has only about nine months longer to stay——” “A year, you mean,” Mr. Dalton interrupted. “No; his ‘days of grace’ amount to three months, and so he will be free in about nine; and he will be absolutely penniless—he will have nothing upon which to begin life. It would be cruel to keep this money from him when it is rightfully his, and he will need it so much. Pray, papa, be kind and reasonable, and let me do as Uncle Richard wished,” pleaded the fair girl, earnestly. “Richard Forrester didn’t know what he wished himself, or he would never have been guilty of such folly.” “Papa, you _know_ that his mind was as clear as either yours or mine is at this moment,” Editha exclaimed, nearly ready to weep at this cruel opposition. “It does not matter; I shall never consent to your fooling away ten thousand dollars in any such manner; so let this end the controversy at once,” he returned, doggedly. “Poor Earle!” sighed Editha, regretfully; “then he’ll have to wait a whole year for it. It is too bad.” “Wait a _year_ for it—what do you mean?” demanded Mr. Dalton sharply.