He grew suddenly angry.

"Child, don't stare at me like that!" he exclaimed, with all an
old man's petulance. "It doesn't matter what I said--I had to let
the neighbours think you were mine--"

A light flashed in upon her, and she gave vent to a shuddering
cry.

"Dad! Oh, Dad!"

Gripping both arms of his chair he raised himself into an upright
posture.

"What now?" he demanded, almost fiercely--"What trouble are you
going to make of it?"

"Oh, if it were only trouble," she exclaimed, forlornly. "It's far
worse! You've branded me with shame! Oh, I understand now! I
understand at last why the girls about here never make friends
with me! I understand why Robin seems to pity me so much! Oh, how
shall I ever look people in the face again!"

His fuzzy brows met in a heavy frown.

"Little fool!" he said, roughly,--"What shame are you talking of?
I see no shame in laying claim to a child of my own, even though
the claim has no reality. Look at the thing squarely! Here comes a
strange man with a baby and leaves it on my hands. You know what a