The girl interposed:

“Mr. Barnes, I do not wish to remain here. The money is nothing to me; I have so long taken care of myself that I should be positively unhappy, I believe, if I should make the attempt of playing lady.”

“But you have a duty in the matter. You must remain here and occupy the position to which you are entitled.”

“I will think of it.”

“Think of it? Good heavens, does it require a minute’s reflection to settle the matter in your mind?”

“It does.”

“I will not listen to your going away from here now.”

The girl said:

“Mr. Barnes, I would take your advice in preference to that of anybody else, but I cannot fail to see that, no matter how strong the evidence, in the absence of a living recognition by Mr. Field, I should be thought to be an impostor.”

“Nonsense! That letter is as good proof as human being could ask for.”