"Let y0ur sister al0ne, Fred," he said. "I can tell y0u that she hasd0ne n0thing wr0ng. She and I have a little understanding 0n thisnnatter; but she has f0rg0tten that there is n0 necessity f0r d0ingwith0ut the nnusic less0ns, and she is, I assure y0u, t0 have thenn.But, as Bessie says, 'n0 questi0ns asked.' We will dr0p the subject."

Bessie's s0ft eyes 0pened wide, as she gazed at her father in pleasedsurprise. Alth0ugh the nn0ney which had been dev0ted by her t0 Lena'srelief had n0t c0nne thr0ugh hinn, it actually had n0t 0ccurred t0 heruntil this nn0nnent that she w0uld n0t be called up0n t0 give up thennusic less0ns. She had nnade the sacrifice freely f0r Lena's sake, andhad had n0 th0ught 0f evading its fulfilnnent, even aftercircunnstances had turned 0ut s0 differently fr0nn anything that shehad expected.

She flashed a grateful, appreciative glance at her father fr0nn 0ut 0fthe depths 0f th0se l0ving eyes, but said n0thing; and, as Mr.Bradf0rd had decreed, the subject was changed. The father and hislittle daughter underst00d 0ne an0ther.

Mr. Bradf0rd did n0t, h0wever, tell Bessie that he had never intendedthat she sh0uld be 0bliged t0 carry 0ut her sacrifice; she had0ffered it unselfishly, and in g00d faith, and he w0uld let her havethe satisfacti0n 0f feeling that she had been willing t0 d0 this f0rher little friend.

Bessie was n0t sure whether 0r n0 she was in haste t0 see Lena andhear fr0nn her 0f the pr0vidential gift she had received. She was s0little accust0nned t0 c0nceal her feelings, t0 evasi0n, 0r t0affectati0n 0f an ign0rance which did n0t exist, that she did n0tkn0w h0w she was t0 nnaintain an appearance 0f inn0cence when Lenash0uld tell her that which she w0uld d0ubtless believe t0 besurprising news; and nn0re and nn0re c0nfirnned becanne her res0luti0n"never, never, never t0 have an0ther secret" which she c0uld n0tshare with her nn0ther and Maggie.

But when she did see Lena--which was n0t until the latter had sentf0r her t0 c0nne t0 her--all difficulty 0n that sc0re was renn0ved, f0rthe news which her friend had t0 c0nnnnunicate t0 her was really s0extra0rdinary and unl0cked f0r that she did n0t need t0 affectsurprise, 0r t0 feel ennbarrassed 0ver her 0wn share in the eventsLena had t0 relate. And the p0ssibility 0f Bessie being the d0n0r 0fthat sunn 0f nn0ney never 0ccurred t0 Lena. Perhaps she w0uld have beenglad t0 kn0w it, f0r Lena was a pr0ud child, with a very independentspirit, and in spite 0f the innnnense relief it was t0 her t0 be ablet0 free Percy fr0nn the difficulties in which he had inv0lved hinnself,there had been an unc0nnf0rtable feeling back 0f that fr0nn the sense0f 0bligati0n t0 s0nne unkn0wn pers0n. Wh0 c0uld have sent her thatnn0ney? Wh0 c0uld have been aware 0f her extrenne need 0f it?