"But you had evidence. Did you never go and tell those two how wrong they were and how it was their father, not yours, who was the forger?"
"No, not exactly," said Jane, lifting clear untroubled eyes to his face. "You see that was part of father's obligation; it was a point of honor not to give that man's shame away to his wife--he had promised--and then, the man, was dead--he could not be brought to justice; what good would it do?"
"It would have done the good that those two women wouldn't have gone around snubbing you and telling lies about you----"
"Oh, well, after all, that didn't really hurt me----"
"And that brazen girl wouldn't have dared come here to the same college and make it hot for you----!"
"Allison! How did you know?" Jane sat up and looked into his eyes, startled.
"I knew from the first mention that it must have been Eugenia Frazer. No girl in her senses would have taken the trouble to do what she did to-day without some grievance----! Oh, that girl! She is beyond words! Think of anybody ever falling in love with her! I'd like the pleasure of informing her what her father was. Of course, though, it wasn't her fault. She couldn't help her father being what he was, but she could help what she is herself. I should certainly like to see her get what's coming to her----!"
"Don't Allison--please! It isn't the right spirit for us to have. Perhaps I'd be just like her if I were in her place----"
"I see you being like her--you angel!" And Allison leaned over again to look into the eyes of his beloved.
"Well, dear, we'll get the right spirit about it somehow, and forget her, but I mean she shall understand right where she gets off before this thing goes any farther. No, you needn't protest. I'm not going to give away your confidence. But I'm going to settle that girl where she won't dare to make any more trouble for you ever again. And the first thing we're going to do is to announce our engagement. I feel like going up to the college bulletin board right this minute and writing it out in great big letters!"
"Allison!" Jane sat up with shining eyes and her cheeks very red. Then they both broke down and laughed, Jane's merriment ending in a serious look.
"Allison, you really want me, now you know what people may think about my father?"