There was also a short note to the manuscript, stating that Edermont had found out and helped the son of his old enemy, Dr. Scott, on the ground that he felt himself to be the cause of the man's death. Allen took occasion to explain this particular matter.  
"Now I come to look back on it," he said reflectively, "I believe that Edermont must have supplied most of the funds for my education. I understood they came from moneys left by my dead father; but from this story"--touching the manuscript--"it would appear that he died poor. Certainly Mr. Edermont behaved generously in me to settle in Canterbury when I for a doctor, and in me with a loan. I am afraid I acted badly to him on that day," added Allen, in a tone, "but I was not myself; the news of my father's terrible death maddened me."
 
"And he was my father, after all!" sighed Dora. "Poor soul! I never cared over-much for him, as I did not like his personality. And, as I thought I was living on my own money, I did not realize his . I am glad to know that I am not the daughter of Carew."
 
"It is strange that Mrs. Tice did not know Edermont was your father," said Allen, after a pause, "for you must have been born shortly before the Dargills returned to Christchurch. Ah, here is Mrs. Tice," he added, as the entered. "Come here, nurse; we have good news for you."
 
"And what may that be?" asked the old , smiling.
 
"Dora and I intend to fulfil our engagement, and marry."
 
The face of Mrs. Tice grew stern with dismay and .
 
"Impossible, Mr. Allen! How can you marry the daughter of your father's murderer?"
 
"That is just it, nurse; Dora is not the daughter of Carew, but of Julian Dargill."
 
"Oh, she was adopted by Mr. Dargill, I know," said Mrs. Tice, still unconvinced, "and was called by his name in Christchurch. Why he changed her name to Carew I do not know, though, to be sure, she was his , and not his daughter, and Carew was her real name."
 
"So we all thought," said Dora impetuously; "but we have just discovered that I am really and truly the daughter of Mr. Dargill and his wife Laura. Listen, Mrs. Tice, and I'll tell you the story."
 
The greatly surprised Mrs. Tice, who was forced to sit down and lift up her hands in her surprise. She was forced to believe that Dora was Dargill's daughter by Laura Carew's second marriage, and--as Mrs. Tice mentally noted--illegitimate, owing to Carew still being alive after her birth. But the housekeeper was too wise and kind-hearted to touch upon so delicate a point.
 
"Deary, deary me!" she ejaculated. "And no one knew it in Christchurch! I never saw you myself, Miss Dora, or I should have known that so young a child could not have been the daughter of a man dead over a year. I am surprised no one else guessed it. How blind we all are!"
 
"Oh, you may be sure Lady Burville told some story to account for the appearance and size of the child," said Allen . "She is an at trickery. But I cannot understand, Dora, why she did not tell you the name of your real father."
 
"She did not wish to herself more than was necessary," said Dora, in a bitter tone. "She told me she was my mother only because she believed I would denounce her as guilty of the crime. And you know those letters Pallant wanted, Allen? Well, I have no doubt that those were the letters she wrote to Edermont--I can hardly bring myself to call him father--giving him permission to take me to live with him. Probably he paid her for doing so."
 
"After all, she is your mother, Miss Dora," said Mrs. Tice reprovingly.
 
"She has not acted a mother's part," retorted Dora. "She me, she deceived me, she lied to me; I never wish to set eyes on her again."
 
"I think that will be rather a relief to her than otherwise," said Allen. "She is to keep her position as Sir John's wife, and will refuse to make any explanation likely to endanger it. However, it does not matter to us, my dear. The bar to our marriage is removed; indeed, I wonder your father did not tell me the truth."
 
"The poor soul was a coward, Allen. He admits as much in his . Few men would have behaved as he did, especially in the face of the fact that Captain Carew was in danger of arrest for the murder of your father. All Mr. Edermont's elaborate precautions were by his lifelong . I can see no other reason why he should have passed me off as his ward. However, now that we know the truth, I can marry you."
 
"We will marry as soon as you like, dearest. And I am glad for your sake, Dora, that you will inherit the fifty thousand pounds left by your father."
 
"But how is that, Mr. Allen?" cried Mrs. Tice in . "That money was only left to the person who discovered the murderer."
 
"Well, nurse, Dora has done so. Joad is the culprit."
 
"You don't say so! Well, I always did think he was a bad man. And he had the boldness to say you were guilty of his own wickedness!" cried Mrs. Tice indignantly. "I am glad he has fallen into his own trap. But why did he kill Mr. Dargill?"
 
"Ah," said Allen, "that is just what I should like to know. No is assigned in the manuscript. It is a mystery at present."
 
"Mr. Carver may force him to confess his reason," suggested Dora, "or perhaps he may guess it."
 
"What! Mr. Carver?"
 
"Yes, Mrs. Tice. I believe Mr. Carver knows a great deal more about my unhappy father than he chooses to confess. From the reference in the manuscript to my father's family lawyers, I am inclined to think that Mr. Carver knows who they are. If he does, he knows also that Mr. Edermont's real name was Julian Dargill."
 
"I wonder if he knows anything about John Mallison," said Allen .
 
"I don't see what there is to know about him," replied Dora carelessly; "the man did his work well, and Carew to America. When he returned my father recompensed him, as he says in his confession. I dare say John Mallison is settled somewhere in England, happy and content. Why do you ask, Allen?"
 
"I was thinking that failing Joad's confession Mallison might know his motive. Depend upon it, Dora, the reason is mixed up somehow with that dark story of the past."
 
"Well, well," said Dora with a sigh, "we shall know all when Mr. Carver comes. In the meantime, let us enjoy our present happiness."
 
Mrs. Tice approved of this sentiment, and brought in tea. The two lovers, with confidence restored between them, lingered over their simple meal, and made plans for the future. It was after six before they awoke to the fact that was ; and as Dora had to return to the Red House on her bicycle, Allen suggested that she should start at once. She to this, as she was anxious to hear the lawyer's report of his interview with Joad, and while they were arguing the matter Mr. Carver arrived.
 
For so unemotional a man, he seemed greatly excited, and shook hands with Dora, although he had seen her but a few hours before. Mr. Carver explained the meaning of that second .
 
"I congratulate you, young lady," he said heartily. "Through your cleverness and we have found out the truth. You are a heroine, Miss Carew."
 
"Not Miss Carew," interposed Allen brightly, "but Miss Dargill."
 
"I beg your pardon," said Mr. Carver in a stiff manner. "I am aware that Mr. Edermont's real name was Dargill, as you have no doubt learnt from the manuscript. But this young lady----"
 
"Is the daughter of your late client," interrupted Dora. "Captain Carew was not my father, Mr. Carver. I am the child of Julian Edermont--or rather, Dargill."
 
"In that case I congratulate you again, Miss Dora," said Carver, compromising the matter by calling her by her name; "you can now marry Dr. Scott, since your father did not kill his father."
 
"Do you know that story?" asked Allen with a start.
 
"Oh dear, yes! I was told it by my late client. But he did not inform me that this young lady was his daughter. I was always under the impression that she was the child of Captain Carew, and the ward of the late Mr. Dargill. Strange he should have kept that from me," the lawyer; "but I never yet knew a client to tell the whole truth."
 
"But this is all very well," broke in Dora. "What has Joad done--fled to............