"As the legal guardian of your son, chosen by the Court and yourself, I have the power to sanction this adoption, and, to own the truth, gave my consent to it before Fred went to College; I doubt if we could have got him off without that!" "Fred never could find a medium; he is always in extremes. The idea of adopting an ugly little thing like that, and he a mere lad yet! I declare it's too ridiculous; but he need not expect me to take charge of her. There is a medium in all things, Judge, and that is beyond endurance." "That is all considered; I will see that Mary has a home and proper protection." "Very well, I wash my hands of the whole affair; poor dear Mr. Farnham was very anxious about this pretty little Isabel. I don't choose to ask why, Judge, I hope I've got pride enough not to stoop so low as that; but, as I was saying, he made a point of it, and you see how resolute I am to perform my duty. It's hard, but I've had to endure a great deal, indeed I have." "I did hope--in fact, I had reason," said the Judge, "to believe that Mr. Farnham would have provided for that child by will." Mrs. Farnham colored violently. "Then you had a reason. He said something to you about it, perhaps?" "Yes, he certainly did; but then his death at last was so sudden. I don't remember when anything has shocked me so much." Mrs. Farnham lifted her handkerchief to her eyes; there was something very pathetic in the action, and the deep black border which was intended to impress the Judge with a sense of her combined martyrdom and widowhood. "Well madam," said that gentleman, heartily weary of her airs, "I hope Fred has your consent to adopt this child. Remember the expense will be nothing compared to the great wealth which he inherits. My word for it, the young fellow will find much worse methods of spending his money if you thwart his generous impulses." "I have nothing to say. It is my destiny to make sacrifices; of course, if my son chooses to incumber himself with a miserable thing like that, he need not ask his mother. Why should he, she is nobody now." "Then you consent," said the Judge, impatiently, for he saw the anxious looks of the little girls and pitied their suspense. Mrs. Farnham removed the handkerchief with its sable border from her eyes, and shook her head disconsolately. "Yes, I consent. What else can I do--a poor heart-broken widow is of no account anywhere." The Judge turned away rather abruptly. "Well, now that it is settled let us go; the poor children are suffering a martyrdom of suspense. The Commissioner is on the other side; we can settle the whole thing at once." "I fancy he'll wonder a little at your taste. But I wash my hands of it--this is your affair. I submit, that is a woman's destiny, especially a widow's." Judge Sharp advanced toward the children. "Say to your matron that we may call for you at any minute, and shall hope to find you ready. Tell her that you are both adopted!"