"No," she said firmly, "it's only revenge you want--revenge--on----"

"Revenge on whom?" he demanded.

"You hated him from the very first," she cried.

"Hated whom?"

"Tod----"

"Always that man!" cried the lawyer impatiently. "You think of no one else. Ah, you love him! Tell me the truth, Paula, I can bear it now. You love him!"

The young girl was silent for a moment and then, in a tone so low as to be almost inaudible, she replied:

"Yes, I love him."

The lawyer bowed his head. There was nothing more to be said. He could only accept the inevitable.

"I see now why I always mistrusted him," he said bitterly. "But I never hated him, Paula. If he is the man I take him to be, he'll insist on my showing up this rotten system which is a blight on our fair land." Going to the door, he called out:

"Mr. Chase!"

The young man reentered, his face wreathed in smiles.

"My machine is outside," he said cheerily, "the chauffeur has fixed it all right. Paula, it is all settled! You are coming home with us, with mother and--me!"

"Going home?--yes," she replied tenderly.

Mr. Ricaby, making an effort to control his feelings, pretended to be busy with some papers at the desk. Turning to Tod, he said:

"I will at once see about getting Miss Marsh's certificate of discharge from this place. Talk to her while I am gone. She's worrying because you are involved in this matter." With a sigh he added: "If she only thought of me as much as she does of you----"

He shook his head sadly and left the office. Tod turned to his companion.

"Paula," he said tenderly, "there is something I've wanted for a long time to tell you----"

"No--not here," she smiled.

"That's right," he laughed. "Not here--but where?"

"At home," she said, in a low voice.

He put his arms around her.

"My machine's at the door--we'll start right now."

THE END.