that were sent to me I
had done nothing toward understanding the care of my property. I had
used the cheque-book to give a little money in charity and to pay some
bills, but the pile of financial pamphlets lay on the shelf of my desk
still unread. I had not had time to devote myself to them, or rather the
time had slipped away before I realized it.

There was some ground after all for my father's reproof. It was possible
that my neglect and apparent disregard of his wishes had led him to
speak severely of Mr. Dale. The thought comforted me and brought sleep
to my eyes. I rose early, and spent an hour before breakfast in reading
the Annual Report of one of the Railway Companies in which I held stock;
and I went downstairs with a confused mind, but with a sense of awakened
virtue. I was cheerful and animated at table, and asked several
questions concerning mortgage bonds and sinking funds that brought a
pleasant expression to my father's face.

The reason why I felt so buoyant was not merely the light-heartedness of
repentance. My romantic spirit had conceived a scheme for convincing my
father that he had unjustly sneered at Mr. Dale's business capacity. I
was resolved to consult him as to my investments, and I felt sure that
the profits accruing from his sage advice would plead his cause more
eloquently than any words of mine. Let but my father perceive my
admirer's sterling qualities, and I knew that he would be eager to make
amends for his injustice by pushing him forward in business. The idea
took strong possession of me, for ever since hearing Aunt Helen speak
of Mr. Dale's lack of means I had been eager at heart to assist him. I
would gladly have asked him to put my money into some commercial
venture, and have insisted upon his keeping a portion of the gains; but
to that I felt he would never consent.

And yet I did not believe that I was in love with Roger Dale. The
thought never occurred to me. I was ready to have our relations continue
indefinitely as they were. But I was not able to regard the hostility of
my family without impatience that added a spice of martyrdom to my
interviews with him. The very fact that others thought ill made it all
the more incumbent upon me to be steadfast and undoubting.

IV.

Before I had an opportunity to broach the question of investments to Mr.
Dale, Aunt Agnes added her quota to my sense of wrong. One evening when
she came to dinner I divined, from the intense rigidity of