her, and brother?"

"We have hitherto done nothing to help, or to save, the girl. We have
each and all trusted to the power of social laws and judgments. Mother
and I have certainly suspected, feared, divined something wrong for a
long time; and we have both acted as if we thought by ignoring the
danger we could destroy it. Antony loves her better than we do. He is
ready to marry her at once. He will take her to Europe, and watch over
her constantly, until the temptation is dead, and the memory forgotten
by every one."

"Harry, we do not want a stranger to do our duty, do we? If Rose is to
be taken away, her father and mother are the proper persons to go with
her."

"Not in this case, father. When a man of Antony's spotless character,
good lineage, and great wealth makes Rose his wife, every one's mouth
will be shut by the honor done her. People will recall the old reports
only to say, 'There must have been a mistake! Rose is so excitable!'
And no one will eventually, in the face of such a fact as her
marriage, trust their own sight or memory about what they think they
have seen or heard. If you are Rose's friend, my dear father, listen
to what Antony Van Hoosen says, and make Rose marry him."

"Make? Who can make a woman do what she is resolved not to do?"

"Then, let us go back to Woodsome; there we may be better able to
protect Rose from herself and others."

"Yes. We can go back to Woodsome."

"But even that will not be sufficient, sir."

"Do you think I am unaware of my duty, Harry? If Mr. Van Hoosen is
willing to devote his life to watching and guarding Rose, what am I
capable of? I, her father! I will leave my studies; I will put every
thought out of mind but Rose. The Saviour who went out into the
wilderness after the stray lamb shall be my example. All the other
ninety-and-nine interests of life shall be forgotten, if so I may
accomplish this one." He rose as he said the words, and stooping to
the table, swept the slips of paper into an open drawer; and his face,
though solemn, was full of light and purpose.

"We should have spoken plainly to each other before this hour, Harry,"
he said, "and you were wrong not to have come to me before. A matter
of such vital importance ought not to have been trusted to the
peradventures and influences of society. We ought to have looked the
danger in the face; we ought to have acknowledged it to each other,
and never suffered the possibility of such a sorrow and sh