cultivated it. He had a keen observation; he became a student of his
fellow-men; and being strong and untiring, he became rich. This was but
the nucleus of his ambitions, and it came to him late in life, but not too
late for him to build round it his happy home, and to surround himself with
the luxuries of leisure for attaining the pinnacle of wide information that
he had always craved. His was merely the prosperity of an intellectual,
self-made man whose time for rest had come.

Ruth seated herself on a low stool that she drew up before him, and laid
her hand upon his.

"You, darling?" He spoke in a full, musical voice with a marked French
accent.

"Can you spare me a few minutes, Father?"

"I am all ears;" he shut the book, and his hand closed about hers.

"Jennie was here just now."

"And did not come in to see me?"

"She had something to tell me."

"A secret?"

"Yes; something I must repeat to you."

"Yes?"