resent it. Don't
interfere, little girl--leave this to me."

The color left her face, and she seemed to grow to mature years in the
instant. Allen started to leave, but was held spellbound by the force
exercised by the quiet, firm dignity which became at once the dominating
factor.

"You are wrong, daddy," she said, with a new note in her voice which all
recognized instinctively. "For the first time in my life, I tell you,
you are wrong."

"Leave this to me, Alice," Gorham repeated, sternly, but the girl did
not heed him.

"Since I have been sitting here I have learned a lot, and I know that
Allen is right. There are things which I have kept from you, and now I
know that I should have told you all about them. Now I know that the
advice I received was wrong--and it is all reacting upon Allen and upon
you."

"Is there no way--" Gorham began, thoroughly exasperated.

"Be patient, Robert," begged Eleanor.

"Don't, Alice," Allen protested; "it's mighty white of you, but it only
makes matters worse. I'm going now--"

"Not until I tell you that I've been unfair to you too," she cried.
"I've made fun of you and been horrid to you, but I believe I've loved
you all the time."

"Alice!" the boy exclaimed.

"You are forgetting your duty to Mr. Covington, as you have already
forgotten your duty to me," her father expostulated, severely.

"She doesn't mean it, Mr. Gorham--please don't blame her; it's all my
fault."

"I do mean it, Allen. I haven't known my own heart till now."

"It's pity for me--it isn't love," the boy replied, bitterly. "I'm a
failure and you're sorry for me. I wanted you when I thought I could
make good. Now that I know I can't, it's different. But I'll never
forget it, Alice, never. Don't blame her, Mr. Gorham. Good-bye."

He rushed out, not trusting himself to speak further, and a moment later
those left behind heard the door close quietly as he went out into the
darkness.

XXVI

The Executive Committee were ready to make their first move; and at a
meeting at which Gorham was not present, they had voted to ask the
president to call a special meeting of the Board of Directors. The call
for the meeting was supplemented by a letter to the Directors, signed by
each member of the committee, setting forth that the business to be
considered included the rescinding of a resolution passed at a previous
meeting, placing plenipotentiary powers in the hands of the president,
and also to consid