"She couldn't bear to worry you. Poor child! she was put out very much, but she meant to give up her visit rather than worry you." Saxon wondered, as he was uttering the last words, if he were straining at the truth. He continued now abruptly: "And that is not all. From what your niece tells me, she goes, or hopes to go, to Paris for a very different reason from mere selfish pleasure. There is a young friend of hers whom she hopes most seriously to benefit by this visit. She will not tell me how, but she assures me emphatically that it is so." "Dear, dear!" said the old man. "Sweet of her! sweet of her! And you think--you really think I ought to waive my objection and trust my child?" "She earnestly hopes that you will do so, sir--that you will permit her at least to go for a day or two, and then recall her if it is essential." "Oh, I wouldn't do that; I wouldn't for a moment be so selfish." "But she herself would wish to come back to you if you were really indisposed." "I would not be so selfish, John--not for a moment. Yes, you have opened my eyes; the dear child shall certainly go. It is a disappointment not to have her, but if we old folks cannot take a few little crosses when we are so near the summit of the hill, and all the crosses and all the difficulties are almost smoothed away, what are we worth, my dear young sir? Oh, I should be the last to stand in the way of my dear little girl." "On the other hand," said Saxon, "Annie would be extremely unworthy if she stayed away from you did you really need her. To go to Paris, to transact her necessary business, and then quickly to return is a very different matter. And now, sir, don't let us talk any more about it. Let me bring you back to your study, and let me fetch you a glass of good port wine." Saxon met Annie as she was returning with Dawson's receipt in her pocket. "Good news!" he said, smiling at her. She felt herself turning pale. "Oh, does he consent?" "He does, and only as he could--right willingly and with all his heart. He is a man in ten thousand! I told him that you would not stay if he were really ill I shall trust you, therefore, to come back as soon as ever I send you word that it is necessary. Will you promise me that?" "Of course, of course," she replied. "Well, go to him now. Don't stay long. Remember that he is weak and will feel the parting. He has said nothing about money; and as you have sufficient you had better not worry him for the present." Annie's conference with her uncle was of short duration. He kissed her two or three times, but there were no tears in his eyes.