Then he scrupulously demanded whether this--this (he
failed to find a name for it) would be an impoverishment of our
family, and I showed how Clarence had provided that we should be in
as easy circumstances as before. In the midst came in Clarence
himself, having hastened to dress, on hearing that Mr. Fordyce was
in the house, and looking none the better for the exertion.
'Look here, my dear boy,' said Frank, taking his hot trembling hand,
'you have put me in a great fix. You have done the noblest deed at
a terrible cost, and whatever I may think, it ought not to be thrown
away, nor you be hindered from freeing your soul from this sense of
family guilt. But here, my forefathers had as little right to the
Chantry as yours, and ever since I began to think about such things,
I have been thankful it was none of mine. Let us join in giving it
or its value to some good work for God--pour it out to the Lord, as
we may say. Bless me! what have I done now.'
For Clarence, muttering 'thank you,' sank out of his grasp on a
chair, and as nearly as possible fainted; but he was soon smiling
and saying it was all relief, and he felt as if a load he had been
bearing had been suddenly removed.
Frank Fordyce durst stay no longer, but laid his hand on Clarence's
head and blessed him.
CHAPTER XLVII--THE FORDYCE STORY
'For soon as once the genial plain
Has drunk the life-blood of the slain,
Indelible the spots remain,
And aye for vengeance call.
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