ul, if there's a possibility, let me save you.
Tell me the truth--the whole truth!"

"You would not thank me for doing so," replied Paul grimly.

For a little while there was another silence between them, then the
judge seemed to change his tactics.

"I think you do wrongly, my son, not to employ counsel. I do not doubt
that your brains are quite as good as anyone's you might engage to
defend you; but you cannot understand the methods of cross-examination
as a trained barrister can. You do not know the hundred weapons he can
use in your defence."

"I think I know," replied Paul.

Both of them had become calm by this time, and each talked in an almost
unrestrained manner. The judge was no longer almost overwhelmed by
that through which he had been passing, and Paul had seemingly, to a
very large extent, forgotten the bitterness which he had felt at the
beginning of their interview.

"May I come to see you again?" asked Judge Bolitho.

"To what end?" asked Paul.

"Because I love you, my son. Because I long to be near you. Because I
want to win your love; to hear you say you forgive me. I have sinned
against you; but, believe me, I have done all in my power to atone. I
must go now, but I shall be thinking for you, hoping for you, working
for you, praying for you."

There was something so humble and so sincere in the tones of his voice
that, in spite of the past, Paul could not longer repel him.

"Won't you shake hands?" he said. "Won't you tell me that you will try
to forgive me?--only _try_, Paul!"

But Paul stood as still as a statue. He felt himself yielding to his
father's pleadings, and he was angry with himself because of it. And
yet he could not destroy the tender feelings which were coming into his
heart.

"Will nothing move you, my son--nothing?"

Still Paul did not reply. He was afraid to speak. He felt as though,
if he uttered a word, it would end in a sob. They had been together
more than an hour, and in the near distance a clock began to chime.

"I must go now," said the judge. "But I shall come again. I shall
never cease coming until I have won your love. Paul, I cannot live
without it now! Look into my eyes, my son; can you not see? Can you
not understand?"

In spite of himself Paul did as his father had told him, and realised
how the proud man was humbling himself. He saw the lines of pain upon
his face, saw, too, the look of infinite yearning and tenderness in his
eye