you the sum of L50,000. But,
let me see, I think I must have told you about this at the time."

"Of course you did, daddy, the very day you came back from London, just
before you went to America!"

"So I did. Well, now, Marian, that money is all your own from this time."

"Oh, daddy! daddy! How shall I thank you? So I shall be able to do
something on my own account now!"

Did no stray thought flit through her mind of all the gaiety and pleasure
so much money might buy? Perhaps; but she was her father's own child.

After a little more loving talk, the young secretary suddenly sprang to
her feet.

"I am forgetting myself sadly! The evening letters will be in."

"Cobbler" Horn started. He had forgotten that she was his secretary.

"I shall have to look out for another secretary, now," he said, with a
comical air of mock dismay.

"And, pray sir, why?" she demanded, standing before him in radiant
rebellion. "I would have you to know there is no vacancy."

Then she laughed in her bewitching way.

"But, my dear----"

"Say no more, daddy; it's quite settled. I shall very likely ask for an
increase of salary; but there must be no talk of dismissal."

Again she laughed; and, in spite of himself, the happy father joined in
her merriment.

"Well now, I must go," she said, with a parting kiss. "I'll send Miss
Horn---- Why, she's my aunt! I declare I'd quite overlooked that!"

"Yes, my dear; and a very kind aunt you'll find her."

"I'm sure of that. But I'm afraid she'll be thinking me a very undutiful
niece."

At this moment, the door opened, and Miss Jemima herself walked in.

"I thought it was time I came," she said, in her usual matter-of-fact way.
"You must be thinking of getting back to bed, Thomas."

Her niece interrupted her by throwing her arms around her neck, and giving
her a hearty kiss.

"Aunt Jemima, I have to beg your pardon," and she kissed her again; "but
you didn't give me time, you were all off like a flock of sheep."

"I think it is my place to beg your pardon, and not yours to beg mine,"
replied Miss Jemima, in the most natural way in the world. "I fear it was
largely through me that you ran away from home."

"Did I actually run away, then?"

"I think there's little doubt of it. But, whether you ran away or not, the
fact remains that my treatment of you had been anything but kind. I meant
well, but was mistaken; and I'm thankful to have the opportunity of asking
you to forgive me."