ave
managed wonderfully. I have come prepared to settle all accounts and
arrange about the future; but, by the way, I have something here for
yourself," taking a package from his breast-pocket, and handing it to her.
"Your father directed me to give you this. Oh, it is all right!" as Dexie
exposed a roll of bills. "Your father explained it to me the last time I
saw him, and I think myself it is only fair that the daughter who watched
over him and waited on him so faithfully should be especially remembered.
It is all right, and will come in very handy when the wedding comes off.
There! don't mind me! Your father told me all about it, and explained many
things which I need not have known if there had been any chance of his
recovery. But he knew someone must take an interest in you as a family, and
I am paid to do it, so it is all right, and the money is justly your own,
for you helped to earn it--yes, this was received from his publishers for
the work you helped him to do."

"But I have a twin sister, Mr. Hackett," Dexie began, as she counted the
bills in her hand, "and I ought to share this with her."

"Not at all! not at all, Miss Sherwood," was the decided answer. "Your
mother will supply your sister's wants willingly, which I fear would not be
the case with yourself, if you were left to her generosity. Pardon my
plain-speaking, Miss Sherwood; it is sometimes necessary, and I know what I
am talking about. It is your father's gift--a wedding present, if you like
to call it--and is intended for yourself alone, and in my opinion is not
half what you deserve, there! I am an old man, comparatively speaking, but
my eyes are young yet."

Dexie led the way to Mrs. Sherwood's room, where her mother was anxiously
awaiting the appearance of the lawyer. She had become quite alarmed at the
want of money, and insisted that Dexie must have been wilfully extravagant.
But as Dexie produced all the accounts, and went over them before Mr.
Hackett, Mrs. Sherwood was obliged to confess that the blame was not all on
Dexie's shoulders, though she thought some of the bills extremely
exorbitant, and could not be convinced that the extras which Gussie had
ordered made such a difference.

Mrs. Sherwood found the interview with the lawyer very satisfactory, and
she viewed with pleasure the roll of bills he left for their immediate use;
and, at the sight of it, Gussie made a mental list of various luxurious
articles she had long desired to poss