bewilderment--"aren't you interested to know who _did_ give it to you?
Aren't you _curious?_ I assure you that in this city it's not a bit
usual to get money through the mails from anonymous admirers--"

"Nor did I say that this was a usual case. I told you that I didn't
_know_ who sent me this."

"Exactly--"

"But I have an idea. I think my father sent it."

"Oh! Your father ..."

So he had a father, an eccentric but well-to-do father, who, though not
a friend, yet sent in twenty dollars now and then to relieve his son's
necessities. Sharlee felt her heart rising.

"Don't think me merely prying. You see I am naturally interested in the
question of whether you--will find yourself able to stay on here--"

"You refer to my ability to make my board payments?"

"Yes."

Throughout this dialogue, Mr. Queed had been eating, steadily and
effectively. Now he slid his knife and fork into place with a pained
glance at his watch; and simultaneously a change came over his face, a
kind of tightening, shot through with Christian fortitude, which plainly
advertised an unwelcome resolution.