“Oh, you know, don’t you, Mr. Keefe!” she exclaimed. “But you don’t know all it means to me. You see”—she blushed but went steadily on—“you see, I’m engaged to—to a man I adore. And——” “Don’t tell me if you’d rather not,” he murmured. “No, it’s a relief to tell—and, somehow—you seem so wise and strong——” “Go on then—please.” The kind voice helped her and Maida resumed: “Well, Jeff—Mr. Allen, lives in Boston, and so——” “So it would be very awkward if your father couldn’t go there.” “Not only that—but I’ve made a vow never to step foot into Massachusetts until my father can do so, too. Nothing would induce me to break that vow!” “Not even your lover?” said Keefe, astonished. “No; my father is more to me than any lover.” “Then you don’t truly love Mr. Allen.” “Oh, yes, I do—I do! But father is my idol. I don’t believe any girl ever adored her father as I do. All my life I’ve had only the one object—to make him forget—as far as possible, his trouble. Now, if I were to marry and leave him—why, I simply couldn’t do it!” “Can’t Mr. Allen live in Connecticut?” “No; his business interests are all in Boston, and he can’t be transplanted. Oh, if father could only do what Mr. Appleby wants him to, then we could all be happy.” “Can’t you persuade him?” “I’ve tried my best. Mother has tried, too. But, you see, it’s a matter of principle, and when principle is involved, we are all in the same boat. Mother and I would scorn any wrongdoing quite as much as father does.” “And you’ll give up your life happiness for a principle?” “Of course. Wouldn’t you? Wouldn’t every decent person? I couldn’t live at all, if I were knowingly doing wrong.” “But your——” Keefe stopped abruptly. “I know what you were going to say,” Maida spoke sadly; “you were going to say my father did wrong. _I_ don’t believe he did.” “Don’t you know?” “I know in my own heart. I know he is incapable of the crime he was charged with. I’m sure he is shielding some one else, or else some one did it of whom he has no knowledge. But my father commit a crime? Never!” “Do you care to tell me the details?” “I don’t know why I shouldn’t. It was long ago, you know, and dad was accused of forgery. It was proved on him—or the jury thought it was—and he was convicted——” “And sentenced?” “Yes; to a long prison term. But Governor Appleby pardoned him with that mean old proviso, that he never should step into Massachusetts!” “Was your mother then the heir to the Massachusetts property?” “No; but Mr. Appleby knew she would be. So, when she did inherit, and had to live in Massachusetts to hold the estate, Mr. Appleby thought he had dad where he wanted him.” “Were they foes?” “Politically, yes. Because dad did all he could to keep Mr. Appleby from being governor.” “But didn’t succeed?”