“By your Uncle Richard’s, eh?” repeated Mr. Dalton, as he still regarded the package belonging to Earle Wayne.
“Yes, sir; the last day of his life he gave me some directions, and among other things committed these papers to my keeping until Earle’s time should expire, and charged me under no circumstances to allow the seal to be broken.”
“Pshaw! what a fuss over a little mess of papers; and what can it matter to any one if we look inside? It is sealed with a regular seal, too. I have considerable curiosity to know what silly secret the young convict regards so sacredly.”
“I do not think it is very kind, sir, to speak of Earle in that way; and, whether it is silly or not, it is his secret, and no one has any right to it but himself,” Editha answered with dignity and some show of spirit.
“It seems to me you are unaccountably interested, and very valiant in your defense of a convicted criminal,” retorted Mr. Dalton, considerably irritated by his daughter’s independence.
“I am deeply interested in Earle Wayne, papa; he was my friend before he was so unfortunate; he is my friend still,” she bravely returned.
“I suppose you even intend to take him under the shadow of your sheltering wing when he comes out of prison?” he sneered.
“I shall certainly not withhold my friendship from him while he is in every way worthy to retain it; and besides——”
“Besides what?” Sumner Dalton asked, with blazing eyes, as she hesitated.
He had no idea that there was so much fire and spirit bottled up in the little lady, who until quite recently had appeared to him only a light-hearted, sweet-tempered child.