I just wanted to see you."

"What for?" he asked, in the same sudden, gruff way.

"I--I thought you might want to see _me_, too," she hedged. "You--you
know guardians usually _do_ want to see their wards."

"Ha! who told you that I was your guardian?"

"No--no one; but you are, sir?" she questioned, fearfully.

"No, Miss. I am not."

"Then--then you only _act_ for my guardian?"

He looked straight at her, and steadily, for several moments, without
speaking. Nancy could learn nothing from his expression.

"I do not know that, legally speaking or otherwise, you have a
guardian," he finally said.

"But--but----"

"Money passes through my hands for your support and schooling. That is
all I can tell you. I am _not_ your guardian."

"Oh, but surely!" cried the greatly perturbed girl, "you know something
about me?"

"I know what your teachers have reported. They say you are fairly
intelligent, remarkably healthy, and quite obedient."

"Oh, sir!"

"I consider _this_ a flagrant case of disobedience. Don't let it happen
again," pursued Mr. Gordon, sternly.

"But, sir! I cannot help it," cried poor Nancy, the tears now beginning
to flow. "I feel sometimes as though I couldn't _live_ unless I learned
something about myself--who I am--who my folks were--why I am being
educated--who is paying for it, and all----"

"You would better smother your curiosity," interrupted Mr. Gordon, the
fat fingers of one hand playing a noiseless tattoo upon the edge of his
desk. "I can tell you nothing."

"You are forbidden to tell?" gasped the girl.

"I know nothing, therefore I cannot tell. You came to me
anonymously--that is, your identity aside from the name you bear was
unknown to me. The money which supports you comes to me anonymously."

"Oh!" The girl's real pain and disappointment were evident even to the
case-hardened lawyer. He was silent while she sobbed with her eyes
against her coat-sleeve. But no change of expression came into the face
that, for long years, he had trained to hide emotion before juries and
witnesses.

"I might have refused the task set me years ago when--when I introduced
you into Miss Prentice's school," he said, at last. "I might have gone
to the authorities and handed you over to them--money and all. To what
end? I was assured that no further money would be devoted to your
up-keep and education. You would then have had no better chance than
that of any foundling in a public charitable institut