of the consequences when he
took that extraordinary step; and that he must now abide by the result;
that he, Algernon, had wasted his substance, like the prodigal of old,
in riotous living, but that he, Mark, knew better the value of money,
and how to take care of it."

"Your father, Tony, is a mean pitiful scoundrel!" cried the heart-broken
Algernon, crushing the unfeeling letter in his hand, and flinging it
with violence from him. "But I deserved to be treated with contempt,
when I could so far forget myself as to make an application to him!
Thirty years ago, I should have deemed begging my bread from door to
door an act of less degradation. But, Tony, time changes us all.
Misfortune makes the proudest neck bow beneath the yoke. My spirit is
subdued, Tony, my heart crushed, my pride gone. I am not what I was, my
dear boy. It is too late to recall the past. But I can see too late the
errors of my conduct. I have acted cruelly and selfishly to poor
Godfrey, and squandered in folly the property his mother brought me, and
which should have made him rich. And you, my dear Anthony, this blow
will deprive you of a father, aye, and of one that loved you too. I
would rather share a kennel with my dogs, than become an inmate of the
home which now awaits you."

"Home!" sighed the youth. "The wide world is my home, the suffering
children of humanity my lawful kinsmen."

Seeing his uncle's lip quiver, he took his hand and affectionately
pressed it between his own, while the tears he could not repress fell
freely from his eyes. "Father of my heart! would that in this hour of
your adversity I could repay to you all your past kindness. But cheer
up, something may yet be done. My legitimate father has never seen me as
a man. I will go to him. I will plead with him on your behalf, until
nature asserts her rights, and the streams of hidden affection, so long
pent up in his iron heart, overflow and burst asunder these bars of
adamant. Uncle, I will go to him this very day, and may God grant me
success!"

"It is in vain, Anthony. Avarice owns no heart, has no natural
affections. You may go, but it is only to mortify your pride, agonize
your feelings, and harden your kind nature against the whole world,
without producing any ultimate benefit to me."

"It is a trial, uncle, but I will not spare myself. Duty demands the
attempt, and successful or unsuccessful, it shall be made."

He strode towards the door. Algernon called him back.