er personal fortune, but besides this,
as Theodore's child, you inherit the Melrose estate, and Leslie must
turn this all over to you, and make such restitution as she is able, of
all income from it which she has received since Judge Lee and I turned
it over to her on her eighteenth birthday."

"No, that's just what she is _not_ to do! I will get exactly what is
mentioned in the will--as Norma Sheridan, bonds and the Melrose
Building, and so on," Norma broke in, eagerly. "And that's enough,
goodness knows, and a thousand times more than Wolf and I ever expected
to have. Aunt Annie and Leslie are reconciled to that. But for the rest,
I refuse to accept it. I don't want it. I've never been so unhappy in my
life as I've been in this house, for all the money and the good times
and the beautiful clothes. And if that much didn't make me happy, why
should ten times more? Isn't it far, far better--all round----"

"You are talking absurdities," said Chris. "Do you think that Hendrick
and I could consent to this? Do you suppose----"

"Hendrick doesn't know it, Chris. It is only you and I and Aunt
Kate--that's all! And if I do this, and swear you and Aunt Kate to
secrecy, who is responsible, except me?"

Chris shook his head. "Aunt Marianna wished you righted--wished you to
take your place as Theodore's daughter. It is her wish, and it is only
our duty----"

"But think a minute, Chris, think a minute," Norma said, eagerly,
leaning forward in her chair, so that her locked hands almost touched
his knees. "_Was_ it her wish? She wanted me to _know_--that's certain!
And I do know. But do you really think she wanted Leslie to be shamed
and crushed, and to take away the money Leslie has had all her life, to
shock Aunt Annie, and stir that old miserable matter up with Hendrick?
Chris, you _can't_ think that! The one thing she would have wished and
prayed would have been that somehow the matter would have been righted
without hurting any one. Chris, _think_ before you tear the whole family
up by the roots. What harm is there in this way? I have plenty of
money--and I go away. The others go on just as they always have, and in
a little way--in just a hundredth part--I pay back dear old Aunt
Marianna for all the worrying and planning she did, to make up to me for
what should have been mine, and was Leslie's. Please--_please_, help me
to do this, Chris. I can't be happy any other way. Aunt Kate will
approve--you don't know how much she w