herself into it. She is going to marry a title herself, not to let it go
out of the family. Have you not heard of the engagement? She is to be a
countess, and the property is controlled by her, so now I have an excuse
for doing something."

"My dear!" Mrs. Thorne took the girl's cold hands in hers. "Do you mean
that you are not your father's heiress?"

"Only by mama's last will and testament. We know what that would be if she
made it now!"

"It was _then_ you came home?"

"It was then, when I learned that one of my rejected suitors was to become
my father. He might be my grandfather. But let us not be vulgar!"

"Aren't you girls going to bed to-night?" Mr. Thorne inquired, with his
usual leaning toward peace and quietness. "You can't settle everything at
one sitting."

"Everything is settled, Mr. Thorne, and I am going to bed," said Miss
Benedet.

Mrs. Thorne did not release her hands. "I want to ask you one more
question."

"I know exactly what it is, and I will tell you to-morrow."

"Tell me now; it is perfectly useless going to your room; the temperature
over your bed is ninety-nine."