ey moaned, and covered his face with his hands.

"Rather would you that men point at you with the finger of scorn--that
former friends despise you--that the world look down upon you, and speak
your name with scoffing, rather this, than see your child happy with the
man of her choice?"

"Yes!" cried the merchant, springing to his feet, "if that man be you, a
thousand times, yes! Go; do your worst; cast forth my name like
waste-paper on the winds, scourge it, brand, blacken it; do what you
will. Though you curse me to the confines of purgatory, my daughter
never shall be yours!"

"This is your final decision?"

"My last--leave my house, sir, and never do you dare to darken its doors
again."

"You may regret, sir, what you have said to-night," said Wilkins,
putting on his hat and cloak.

"I shall always abide by it. Begone, sir! Why do you tarry?"

The folds of the heavy cloak fluttered a moment in the door-way, then
passed through it, and disappeared down the long stairs. Through those
vast halls, with frowning brow and heavy tread, Bernard Wilkins strode,
and the massive door closed after him for the first and last time, and
he went forth into the silent streets.

CHAPTER XXXI.

"I do beseech you, send for the lady,
And let her speak."

Othello.

"Send the girl, Minny, to me," said Mr. Delancey to Della, as she was
about leaving the breakfast-table, to go to her own room, the morning
after Wilkins' visit to her father.

Mr. Delancey, as was usual with him, had said not a word with regard to
his interview with Wilkins, but he had thought of it deeply, and was now
prepared to act.

Della flew to her room.

"Minny, dear Minny, papa wants you. He sent me for you, and I am certain
something terrible is about to happen, his eyes look so strangely. I
know Bernard must have come last night, as he said he would, and that is
what has made papa seem so silent and angry. He wants to ask you about
everything. Oh, Minny, tell him what you choose, but don't give up my
precious letters--don't!"

Della sank sobbing upon a chair, and Minny, pale as a ghost, glided
away, and entered the apartment where Mr. Delancey awaited her.

"So, girl, you have chosen to play the go-between for your mistress and
a worthless fellow?"

Minny was silent.

"You who must know all, tell me what you know of this matter."

"Nothing, sir, dishonorable to my master or his daughter."

"No prevarication, minion. What