After a long silence Sister Rose said: "It isn’t anything you’ve advanced that influences me. It’s my—failure—with Harry. Do you think it hasn’t cut me to the—the soul?" she demanded fiercely, flinging the handful of clipped twigs onto the gravel. "Do you think I am heartless because I said his end was a nasty one! It was! Let God judge me. I did my best." Cleland remained silent. "As a matter of fact, I don’t care what you think," she added. "What concerns me is that, possibly—probably, this child would be better off with you.... You’re _the_ John Cleland, I presume." He seemed embarrassed. "You collect prints and things?" "Yes, Madame." "Then you are _the_ John Cleland. Why not say so?" He bowed. "Very well, then! What you’ve said has in it a certain amount of common sense. I have, in a way, dedicated my life to all unfortunate children; I might not be able to do justice to Harry’s child—give her the intimate personal care necessary—without impairing this work which I have undertaken, and to which I am devoting my fortune." There was another silence, during which Sister Rose snapped her shears viciously and incessantly. Finally, she looked up at Cleland: "Does the child care for you?" "I—think so." "Very well. But I sha’n’t permit you to adopt her." "Why not?" "I may want her myself when I’m too old and worn out to work here. I wish her to keep her name." "Madame——" "I insist. What did you say her name is? Stephanie? Then her name is to remain Stephanie Quest." "If you insist——" "I do! And that’s flat! And you need not settle an income on her——" "I shall do so," he interrupted firmly. "I have ample means to provide for the future of anybody dependent on me, Madame." "Do you presume to dictate to me what I shall do concerning my own will?" she demanded; and her belligerent eyes fairly snapped at him. "Do what you like, Madame, but it isn’t necessary to——" "Don’t instruct _me_, Mr. Cleland!" "Very well, Madame——" "I shall do as I always have done, and that is exactly as I please," she said, glancing at him. "And if I choose to provide for the child in my will, I shall do so without requesting your opinion. Pray understand me, Mr. Cleland. If I let you have her it is only because I am self-distrustful. I failed with Harry Quest. I have not sufficient confidence in myself to risk failure with his daughter. "Let the matter stand this way until I can consult my attorney and investigate the entire affair. Take her into your home. But remember that she is to bear her own name; that the legal guardianship shall be shared by you and me; that I am to see her when I choose, take her when I choose.... Probably I shall not choose to do so. All the same, I retain my liberty of action." Cleland said in a low voice: "It would be—heartless—if——"