“What nonsense, child!”
“It is not nonsense. The money was set apart for him, and I should be a thief and a robber not to do with it as I was bidden. I have promised, and I shall fulfill,” Editha returned, steadfastly.
“Not with my consent, miss,” Mr. Dalton cried, hotly.
“Then it will have to be done without it,” she answered, sadly.
“That cannot be; you are under age; you are only nineteen, and it will be more than a year before you are free to act upon your own authority. Meantime, I am your legal guardian, and you can transfer no property without my consent,” her father replied, triumphantly.
“Is that so?” Editha asked, with a startled look.
“That is so, according to the law of this State.”
“Papa, you cannot mean what you say. You must allow me to do this thing; you would not be so dishonorable as to withhold this money from Earle when it is really his. He has only about nine months longer to stay——”
“A year, you mean,” Mr. Dalton interrupted.
“No; his ‘days of grace’ amount to three months, and so he will be free in about nine; and he will be absolutely penniless—he will have nothing upon which to begin life. It would be cruel to keep this money from him when it is rightfully his, and he will need it so much. Pray, papa, be kind and reasonable, and let me do as Uncle Richard wished,” pleaded the fair girl, earnestly.