and I thought that under different
influences you might become a splendid woman. It was she who suggested
my inviting you. You are a good girl, Ethel, and above all you have a
kind and tender heart. You are a Carpenter in spite of your mother, and
anyone bearing my father's name can not go far from right. You have
shown that this morning. Now, my dear, in this world environments have
much to do with one's character, and you have never had a chance, my
poor little girl," and Aunt Susan kissed and soothed her as a mother
might have done. "Now forget it all, my dear child, just as I shall
forget. Let us begin anew from this morning."

"But, Aunt Susan," sobbed the girl, "I feel so unworthy, and you are so
sweet to forgive me. I should think you'd hate me and want me to leave
your house. But, believe me, I do love you--I love you as dearly as I
love Grandmamma and Papa. Excepting in books I never knew that any one
woman could be so good and self-sacrificing as you are. Oh, will you
believe that I don't want your money, and that I only care for your
respect and forgiveness, and your love, if you can give it?"

"Yes, my dear, I believe every word that you say. I believe in you from
now on," and Ethel threw her arms around Aunt Susan's neck and wept for
joy.

CHAPTER XVI

AUNT SUSAN'S TRIALS

"And now sit down, my dear, and I will tell you something. First you can
never be my heiress, for I have no money to give away or leave to
anyone. Tom supports me entirely. You look surprised and I don't wonder.
I never told your grandmother. She is old and, owning the house in New
York as she does, would probably insist upon my living with her; and
until a year ago I had hopes of recovering some of my property that I
had been cheated out of, but I have given it up. I love pretty gowns and
pretty things as well as anyone, but I am saving the money that Tom
insists upon giving me to spend on myself for him. I wish to leave him
something at my death. Now I will tell you about it and how I lost my
fortune.

"At the time I adopted the boys I was a very wealthy woman. Previous to
that year I had given away a great deal for charity, but I had a hobby
and that hobby was to establish a humane Insane Asylum. I had seen so
much cruelty practiced in different institutions where I happened to
know some of the inmates, and I had heard of such shocking treatment
received by patients, that I resolved to establish a reform. I gave my
hand