But he will never
believe you, nor let you go.'
'Better so,' said Clarence, half choked, 'than go profanely--
deceiving--or not knowing whether I shall--'
Just then we heard our father wishing the other gentlemen good-
night, and to our surprise Clarence opened the door, though he was
deadly white and with dew starting on his forehead.
My father turned good-naturedly. 'Boys, boys, you are glad to be
together, but mamma won't have you talking here all night, keeping
her baby up.'
'Sir,' said Clarence, holding by the rail of the bed, 'I was waiting
for you. I have something to tell you--'
The words that followed were incoherent and wrong end foremost; nor
had many, indeed, been uttered before my father cut them short with
-
'No false excuses, sir; I know you too well to listen. Go. I have
ceased to hope for anything better.'
Clarence went without a word, but Griff and I burst out with
entreaties to be listened to. Our father thought at first that ours
were only the pleadings of partiality, and endeavours to shield the
brother we both so heartily loved; but when he understood the
circumstances, the real amount of the transgression, and Clarence's
rejection of our united advice and assistance to conceal it, he was
greatly touched and softened. 'Poor lad! poor fellow!' he muttered,
'he is really doing his best. I need not have cut him so short.
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