“But, papa, I do not understand it at all,” she said, when some of the expressions of amazement had ceased around the table. “I have no money at all, you know, and I do not think you have ten thousand dollars of your own. So how can it be mine?” “It is yours by the free gift of some person unknown, Aline, who has placed it at your disposal in the bank.” “Oh, dear, who could it have been?” cried Mrs. Rodney, while Effie and Max looked the image of silent amazement. “I am sure I do not know,” Mr. Rodney replied. “Can you guess who it was, Aline?” “No, papa,” she replied. He was watching her closely, as he had fallen into a habit of doing since she had come home. There had been a look of wonder on her face at first, but she had scarcely spoken before it was replaced by a sudden look of comprehension. A deep, betraying blush overspread her face, and showed him that she _knew_. “Aline, are you quite, quite sure?” he asked. “Of what, papa?” “That you have no knowledge of the person who placed the money in bank to your account?” he replied. The hot blush burned deeper in her face. She put up her fair, cool hands to hide it. She was silent a moment, and then she lifted her dewy, violet eyes frankly to his grave face. “Papa, I will not speak falsely to you,” she said. “I think--I could guess who the person--might be?” “Well, dear?” he said, interrogatively. She understood the stifled pleading in his voice. The blue eyes fell sensitively. “You see, papa, I am only guessing--I am not sure,” she explained, tremulously. “Am I to have the benefit of your surmise, my child?” he asked. “Papa, forgive me,” she pleaded; “I cannot tell you.” “Tell me this,” he said: “Was it the person who bound you to silence?” “Perhaps so--I cannot tell,” she answered, reluctantly. She was very guarded. He saw that it was useless to press her. “Shall you accept this munificent gift, Aline?” he asked. A sudden flash of scorn and anger leaped into the blue eyes, her lip curled. She took up the unopened package, reached across the table, and laid it beside him. “I shall not accept it!” she replied, with bitter brevity. He was disappointed. Ten thousand dollars would have been so much to her and to them all. They might have taken it and gone away from this place, where the finger of scorn was pointed at them for her fault. They might have made themselves a new home far away from the tongues of scandal that were busily wagging against them here. But he did not press her. “You know best, my dear,” he said, simply.