ense by his clear and undoubting knowledge that he was
forgiven? What dread of punishment, what blank despair, could have
pierced that great heart so deeply as did the thought that the God whom
he had hated and defied had returned him good for evil, and rewarded him
not according to his iniquities? That discovery, as Ezekiel of old had
warned his forefathers, filled up the cup of his self-loathing.... To
have found at last the hated and dreaded name of God: and found that
it was Love!.... To possess Victoria, a living, human likeness, however
imperfect, of that God; and to possess in her a home, a duty, a purpose,
a fresh clear life of righteous labour, perhaps of final victory....
That was his punishment; that was the brand of Cain upon his forehead;
and he felt it greater than he could bear.

But at least there was one thing to be done. Where he had sinned, there
he must make amends; not as a propitiation, not even as a restitution;
but simply as a confession of the truth which he had found. And as his
purpose shaped itself, he longed and prayed that Miriam might return,
and make it possible.

And Miriam did return. He heard her pass slowly through the outer room,
learn from the girls who was within, order them out of the apartments,
close the outer door upon them; at last she entered, and said quietly--

'Welcome! I have expected you. You could not surprise old Miriam. The
teraph told me last night that you would be here....'

Did she see the smile of incredulity upon Raphael's face, or was it some
sudden pang of conscience which made her cry out--

'.... No! I did not! I never expected you! I am a liar, a miserable old
liar, who cannot speak the truth, even if I try! Only look kind! Smile
at me, Raphael!--Raphael come back at last to his poor, miserable,
villainous old mother! Smile on me but once, my beautiful, my son! my
son!'

And springing to him, she clasped him in her arms.

'Your son?'

'Yes, my son! Safe at last! Mine at last! I can prove it now! The son of
my womb, though not the son of my vows!' And she laughed hysterically.
'My child, my heir, for whom I have toiled and hoarded for
three-and-thirty years! Quick! here are my keys. In that cabinet are all
my papers--all I have is yours. Your jewels are safe--buried with mine.
The negro-woman, Eudaimon's wife, knows where. I made her swear secrecy
upon her little wooden idol, and, Christian as she is, she has been
honest. Make her rich for life. She