l net him quite an income and place him beyond the
possibility of financial worry so long as he lives."

Oh, the relief that surged over Robert Morton! Joy rioted with shame,
happiness with self-reproach. How feeble his faith had been. He hoped
Mr. Galbraith did not read in his eyes the suspicions he had cherished.

Apparently he did not, for in the same kindly manner he asked:

"Do you think it would be better to keep the secret from the little old
chap a bit longer or tell him now?"

"Oh, tell him now! Tell him now!" cried Bob. "Tell him right away
when we get back!"

His companion laughed at his eagerness and for the first time their
eyes met.

"And now, sir," began Robert Morton, a ring of buoyancy and
light-heartedness in his voice such as had not sounded in it for weeks,
"I have a surprise for you. I, too, am going to be married."

The car swerved suddenly as if a tremor had passed through the hands on
the wheel.

"I am engaged to your niece, Mr. Galbraith."

"To my--my niece!" repeated the great man blankly. "I don't think I
quite--"

"To Delight Hathaway."

Bob saw a dull brick-red flush color the neck of the capitalist and
steal up into his face. For a moment he seemed at a loss for words.
Then presently, as if he had succeeded in readjusting his ideas, he
ejaculated:

"My word, Bob! Well, you young people have mixed yourselves up nicely!
However, if you all are happy, that is the main thing; you are the ones
to be suited. We shall still have you in the family, anyway." He
laughed. "And about the property," he went on thoughtfully,--"this
simplifies matters greatly, for it won't make much difference now which
of you has it--you or the girl."

But Bob stopped him with a quick protest.

"I don't want Delight to know Madam Lee's money has previously been
willed to me," he said. "If she suspected that, she would never take
it. You are not to tell her--promise me you will see to that."

"Of course I will arrange the affair any way you wish," Mr. Galbraith
agreed, with a dubious frown. "But if you are to marry her, I really
can't see what difference it would make."

"It will make a great deal of difference," declared the younger man.
"In the one case the fortune will be hers to use as she pleases. She
will have the independent right to hand it over to the Brewsters if she
so desires. Our entire relation will be placed on another basis; for
if I marry her under those conditions I