Why?"
"I didn't want it," she said simply. "And my father did.
So I gave it to him.
He wanted it for his business."
"What did you want?"
She hesitated a moment before she answered.
"What I have now. Jo-Ann. And to be left alone.
I kept just enough money to come East and have the baby.
Then when she was old enough, I went out and got a job."
She smiled. "I know it won't seem like much to you but I'm an executive secretary and I make seventy dollars a week."
I was silent for a moment while I finished the rest of the coffee.
"How's Amos?" I asked.
She shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't know. I haven't heard from him in four years.
How did you find out where I was living?"
"From Rina," I said.
She didn't say anything for a moment. Then she took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry, Jonas." I could see sympathy deep in her eyes. "You may not believe me but I'm truly sorry.
I read about it in the papers.
It was a terrible thing. To have so much and go like that."
"Rina had no surviving relatives," I said. "That's why I'm here."
A puzzled look came over her face. "I don't understand."
"She left her entire estate in trust for your daughter," I said quickly.
"I don't know exactly how much, maybe thirty, forty thousand after taxes and debts.
She appointed me executor and made me promise to see that the child got it."
She was suddenly pale and the tears came into her eyes.
"Why did she do it?
She didn't owe me anything."
"She said she blamed herself for what happened to us."
"What happened to us was your fault and mine," she said vehemently.
She stopped suddenly and looked at me. "It's foolish to get excited about it at this late date. It's over and done with."
I looked at her for a moment, then got to my feet.
"That's right, Monica," I said. "It's over and done with." I started for the door. "If you'll get in touch with McAllister, he'll have all the papers ready for you."
She looked up into my face.
"Why don't you stay and let me fix you supper," she said politely. "You look tired."
There was no point in telling her that what she saw was the beginning of a hangover.
"No, thanks," I said, equally polite. "I have to get back. I have some business appointments."
A wry, almost bitter look came over her face.
"Oh, I almost forgot," she said.
"Your business."
"That's right," I said.
"I suppose I should be thankful you took the time to come out." Before I could answer, she turned and called to the child. "Jo-Ann, come out here and say good-by to the nice man."
The little girl came into the room, clutching a small doll.
She smiled up at me.
"This is my dolly."
I smiled down at her. "It's a nice dolly."
"Say good-by, Jo-Ann." Jo-Ann held out her hand to me.
"Good-by, man," she said seriously. "Come an' see us again. Sometime. Soon."
I took her hand.
"I will, Jo-Ann," I said. "Good-by."