"I'll leave with you, or send you, my power of attorney," the girl went on, "and you and Hendrick as executors must do whatever you think right and just--just deposit the money in the bank!" "I see," Chris said, noncommittally. "And there's another thing," Norma went on, with heightened colour. "I don't want either Leslie or Aunt Annie ever to know--what you and I know!" Chris looked at her, frowning slightly. "That's impossible, of course," he said. "What are they going to think?" "They'll think nothing," Norma said, confidently, but with anxious eyes fixed on his face, "because they'll know nothing. There'll be no change, nothing to make them suspect anything." "But--great God! You don't seem to understand, Norma. Proofs of your birth, of your rightful heritage, your identity, the fact that you are Theodore's child, must be shown them, of course. You have inherited by Aunt Marianna's will the bulk of her personal fortune, but besides this, as Theodore's child, you inherit the Melrose estate, and Leslie must turn this all over to you, and make such restitution as she is able, of all income from it which she has received since Judge Lee and I turned it over to her on her eighteenth birthday." "No, that's just what she is _not_ to do! I will get exactly what is mentioned in the will--as Norma Sheridan, bonds and the Melrose Building, and so on," Norma broke in, eagerly. "And that's enough, goodness knows, and a thousand times more than Wolf and I ever expected to have. Aunt Annie and Leslie are reconciled to that. But for the rest, I refuse to accept it. I don't want it. I've never been so unhappy in my life as I've been in this house, for all the money and the good times and the beautiful clothes. And if that much didn't make me happy, why should ten times more? Isn't it far, far better--all round----" "You are talking absurdities," said Chris. "Do you think that Hendrick and I could consent to this? Do you suppose----" "Hendrick doesn't know it, Chris. It is only you and I and Aunt Kate--that's all! And if I do this, and swear you and Aunt Kate to secrecy, who is responsible, except me?" Chris shook his head. "Aunt Marianna wished you righted--wished you to take your place as Theodore's daughter. It is her wish, and it is only our duty----"