"Won't it be odd, pretending that you are my daughter, and that instead of coming into the world before me you came in after me?
But it is the only way by which I can give you a legal title to the name of Ida Ludington, although it is yours already by a claim prior to mine.

I would rather see you Paul's wife, and under his protection, but this arrangement will secure your safety.

You see, until you have a legal name I cannot make you my heir, or even leave you a dollar." "Do you mean that you want to make me your heir ?" exclaimed Ida.
"Of course," said Miss Ludington.

"What else could I think of doing?
Even if you had married Paul, do you suppose I would have wished to have you dependent on him?
I should then have left you a fortune under the name of Mrs.De Riemer.

As it is, I shall leave it to my adopted daughter, Ida Ludington.