brought her over。〃
Larry stood aside and tensely watched this meeting between father and daughter。 Joe bowed slightly； and with a dignified grace that overalls and over fifteen years of prison could not take from one who during his early and middle manhood had been known as the perfection of the finished gentleman。 His gray eyes warmed with appreciation of the young figure before him； just as Larry had seen them grow bright watching the young figures disporting in the Sound。
〃It is very gracious for a young woman like you； Miss Cameron；〃 he said in a voice of grave courtesy； 〃to be interested enough in an old man like me to want to talk with him。〃
Maggie made the supreme effort of her life to keep herself in hand。 〃I wanted to talk to you because of something Mr。 Brainard told me about… …about your having a daughter。〃
Larry felt that this was too sacred a scene for him to intrude upon。 〃Would you mind excusing me；〃 he said； 〃there are some calculations I've got to rush out〃and he returned to the bench on which they had been sitting and pretended to busy himself over a pocket notebook。
While Larry had been speaking and moving away； Maggie had swiftly been appraising her father。 His gray eyes were direct as against the furtiveness of Jimmie's； his mouth had a firm kindliness as against the wrinkled cunning of Jimmie's； his bearing was erect； self… possessed； as against Jimmie's bent； shuffling carriage。 Maggie felt no swift…born daughter love for this stranger who was her father。 The turmoil of her discovery filled her too completely to admit a full… grown affection； but she thrilled with the sense of the vast difference between her supposed father and this her real father。
In the meantime her father had spoken。 Joe would have been more reserved with men or with older women； but with this girl； so much the sort of girl he had long dreamed about； his reserve vanished without resistance； and in its place was a desire to talk to this beautiful creature who came out of the world which the big white house represented。
〃I have a daughter； yes；〃 he said。 〃But LarryMr。 Brainard perhaps I should sayhas likely told you all there is to tell。〃
〃I'd like to hear it from you； pleaseif you don't mind。〃
〃There's really not much to tell；〃 he said。 〃You know what I was and what happened。 When I went to prison my daughter was too young to remember meless than two years old。 I didn't want her ever to be drawn into the sort of life that had been mine； or be the sort of woman that a girl becomes who gets into that life。 And I didn't want her ever to have the stigma； and the handicap； of her knowing and the world knowing that her father was a convict。 You can't understand it fully； Miss Cameron； but perhaps you can understand a little how disgraced you would feel； what a handicap it would be； if your father were a convict。 I had a good friend I could trust。 So I turned my daughter over to him； to be brought up with no knowledge of my existence； and with every reasonable advantage that a nice girl should have。 I guess that's all； Miss Cameron。〃
〃This friendwhat was his name？〃
〃CarlisleJimmie Carlisle。 But his name could never have meant anything to you。 Besides； he's dead now。〃
Maggie forced herself on。 〃Your planit turned out all right？ And youyou are happy？〃
〃Yes。〃 In the sympathetic atmosphere which this young girl's presence created for him； Joe's emotions flowed into words more freely than ever before in the company of a human being。 Though he was answering her； what he was really doing was rather just letting his heart use its long…silent voice； speak its exultant dream and belief。
〃Somewhere out in the worldI don't know where； and I don't want to knowmy daughter has now grown into a wholesome； splendid young woman！〃 he said in a vibrant voice。 Brooding in solitude so long upon his careful plan that he believed could not fail； had made the keen Joe Ellison less suspicious concerning it than he otherwise would have beenperhaps had made him a bit daffy on this one subject。 〃I have saved my daughter from all the grime she might have known； and which might have soiled her； and even pulled her down if I hadn't thought out in good time my plan to protect her。 And of course I am happy！〃 he exulted。 〃I have done the best thing that it was possible for me to do； the thing which I wanted most to do！ Instead of what she might have been； I have as a daughter just such a nice girl as you arejust about your own agethough； of course； she hasn't your money； your social position； and naturally not quite the advantages you have had。 Of course I'm happy！〃
〃You'reyou're sure she's all that？〃
Again his words were as much a statement aloud to himself of his constant dream as they were a direct answer to Maggie。 〃Of course！ There was enough moneythe plan was in the hands of a friend who knew how to handle such a thingshe's never known anything but the very best surroundingsand until she was fourteen I had regular reports on how wonderfully she was progressing。 You see my friend had had her legally adopted by a splendid family； so there's no doubt about everything being for the best。〃
〃And you〃Maggie drove herself on〃don't you ever want to see her？〃
〃Of course I do。 But at the very beginning I fixed things so I could not； so that I would not even know where she is。 Removed temptation from myself； you see。 Don't you see the possible results if I should try to see her？ Something might happen that would bring out the truth； and that would ruin her happiness； her career。 Don't you see？〃
His gray eyes； bright with his great dream； were fixed intently upon Maggie； and yet she felt that they were gazing far beyond her at some other girl 。 。 。 at his girl。
〃 II〃 she gulped and swayed and would have fallen if he had not been quick to catch her arm。
〃You are sick； Miss？〃 he asked anxiously。
〃II have been；〃 she stammered； trying to regain control of her faculties。 〃It'sit's thatand my not eatingand standing in this hot sun。 Thank you very much for what you've told me。 I'dI'd better be getting back。〃
〃I'll help you。〃 And very gently； with a firm hand under one arm； he escorted her to the bench where Larry sat scribbling nothings。 He then raised his hat and returned to his dahlias。
〃Well？〃 queried Larry when they were alone。
〃I can't stand it to stay here and talk to these people；〃 she replied in an agonized whisper。 〃I must get away from here quick； so that I can think。〃
〃May I come with you？〃
〃No； LarryI must be alone。 Please； Larry； please get into the house； and manage to fake a telephone message for me； calling me back to New York at once。〃
〃All right。〃 And Larry hurried away。 She sat； pale； breathing rapidly； her whole being clenched； staring fixedly out at the Sound。 Five minutes later Larry was back。
〃It's all arranged； Maggie。 I've told the people； they're sorry you've got to go。 And Dick is getting his car ready。〃
She turned her eyes upon him。 He had never seen in them such a look。 They were feverish； with a dazed； affrighted horror。 She clutched his arm。
〃You must promise never to tell my father about me！〃
〃I won't。 Unless I have to。〃
〃But you must not！ Never！〃 she cried desperately。 〃He thinks I'mOh； don't you understand？ If he were to learn what I really am； it would kill him。 He must keep his dream。 For his sake he must never find out； he must keep on thinking of me just the same。 Now； you understand？〃
Larry slowly nodded。
Her next words were dully vibrant with stricken awe。 〃And it means that I can never have him for my father！ Never！ And I thinkI'dI'd like him for a father！ Don't you see？〃
Again Larry nodded。 In this entirely new phase of her； a white…faced； stricken； shivering girl； Larry felt a poignant sympathy for her the like of which had never tingled through him in her conquering moods。 Indeed Maggie's situation was opening out into great human problems such as neither he nor any one else had ever foreseen！
〃There comes Dick；〃 she whispered。 〃I must do my best to hold myself together。 Good…bye； Larry。〃
A minute later； Larry just behind her； she was crossing the lawn on Dick's arm； explaining her weakness and pallor by the sudden dizziness which had come upon her in consequence of not eating and of being in the hot sun。
CHAPTER XXXI
Larry was far more deeply moved this time when Maggie drove away with Dick than on that former occasion when he had tried to play with adroitness upon her psychological reactions。 Now he knew that her very world was shaken； that her soul was stunned and reeling； that she was fighting with all her strength for a brief outward composure。
He had loved her for months； but he had never so loved her as in this hour when all her artificial defenses had been battered down and she had been just a bewildered； agonized girl； with just the emotions and first thoughts that any other normal girl would have had under the same circumstances。 His great desire had been to be with her； to comfort her； help her； but he realized that she had been correct in her instinct to be by herself for a while； to try to comprehend it all； to try to think her way out。
When Maggie was out of sight he excused himself from having tea； left Hunt and