His eyes were closed and he did not answer her nor see the tear-stained face so close to his that he felt her hot breath on his cheek. He was thinking of possibilities and finally said abruptly: “You did not like Sandy’s will, you say, nor wish to abide by it!” “No, I couldn’t, because, you see, there was Tom, whom I have known ever since I can remember,” Rena answered. “And if there had been no Tom?” was Rex’s next question, put he scarcely knew why, except that he felt a desire to know if this little girl could have cared for him under any circumstances. There was no hesitating in Rena’s answer as she again wiped the sweat from his face. She meant to be truthful now, if the heavens fell, and she said: “I told you I was angry about the will, and I did not wish to be disposed of that way. I did not know you and did not suppose you would care for me, except for the money, and if that influenced you I should hate you. I don’t think you are that kind, now, and I don’t know what might have happened if there had been no Tom. I guess I have always loved him, but I like you very much and want you for my friend.” She was very frank and Rex smiled faintly and said: “It’s some comfort to know that you like me and might possibly have cared if there were no Tom.” He seemed very tired and Rena knew she ought to leave him, but could not go without his forgiveness. “Miss Bennett will be coming for me, I have stayed so long,” she said, “but I cannot go until you forgive me.” “I must,” he answered. “There is nothing else to do. It has hurt me some; for no man likes to be the subject of a joke like that, but I am glad you have told me and wish you had done so before.” “I wish I had. I have wanted to so many times,” she said, and again wiping the drops from his face and hands she left the room and came to me, her voice shaking and her eyes full of tears as she said: “I have told him and I am going to tell you. I am the girl in the will, and have been acting as bad a lie as Ananias and Sapphira ever acted, and ought to be killed.” “What do you mean?” I asked, and she repeated the story to me as she had to Rex, giving no blame to any one but herself. I was too much surprised to speak at first, nor had I time, for seeing Mr. McPherson entering the house she darted from me exclaiming: “I must tell him, too. I mean to make thorough work.” She was gone like the whirlwind and following Mr. McPherson into the library she began at once, talking so rapidly that he could scarcely follow her, and some things she repeated twice before he understood her. His first impulse was to swear when he fairly got it through his head that a big joke had been played upon them. He didn’t like practical jokes, and this least of all, and said so rather emphatically, asking what excuse she had, while Rena sobbed piteously. “I’ve no excuse,” she said, “and it was all my fault. I persuaded Tom and Irene. She is not to blame.”