'Prejudices,' said my father bitterly. 'Prejudices in favour of
truth and honour.'
And my mother uttered the worst reproach of all, when in my
agitation, I slipped and almost fell in rising--'Oh, my poor Edward!
that I should have lived to think yours the least misfortune that
has befallen my sons!'
'Nay, mother,' said Clarence, putting Martyn toward her, 'here is
one to make up for us all.'
'Clarence,' said my father, 'your mother did not mean anything but
that you and Edward are the comfort of our lives. I wish there were
a chance of Griffith redeeming the past as you have done; but I see
no hope of that. A man is never ruined till he is married.'
At that moment there was a step in the hall, a knock at the door,
and there stood Mr. Frank Fordyce. He looked at us and said, 'It is
true then.'
'To our shame and sorrow it is,' said my father. 'Fordyce, how can
we look you in the face?'
'As my dear good friend, and my father's,' said the kind man,
shaking him by the hand heartily. 'Do you think we could blame you
for this youth's conduct? Stay'--for we young ones were about to
leave the room. 'My poor girl knows nothing yet. Her mother
luckily got the letter in her bedroom. We can't put off the
Reynoldses, you know, so I came to ask the young people to come up
as if nothing had happened, and then Ellen need know nothing till
the day is over.
Pages:
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279