Lynwood pressed her to him, and looked down with dim eyes at the
sweet little face.

'Wright,' he said, 'I am not going to take a refusal, I must hear all
about it. There is so much to ask! My child lost, and nobody knows how
it happened, or what followed after you found her! We made all possible
search, but no trace of her could we come across, and we had given up
all hopes of ever seeing her again. You cannot now go away and leave all
our questions unanswered. We will go to Lady Coke, who will like to add
her thanks to mine for---- '

'Sir,' returned Jack, becoming very white, but looking determined, 'if
that is your wish, then it is my duty to tell you what sort of a man I
am before I can accept thanks or go to your house.'

'Jack! Jack!' pleaded Estelle, springing to his side and clasping his
hand in both her own.

But he took no notice; perhaps her handclasp only strengthened his
resolve.

'Do you see that poor fellow there,' he continued, pointing to Dick,
over whom Mrs. Peet was leaning, administering some cordial. 'Do you see
that poor wreck of a man? I did _that_!'

He turned away.

There was silence. Lord Lynwood stood dumbfounded. With tears streaming
down her cheeks, Estelle, looking from one to the other, exclaimed,
'Father, don't look at him like that. He is so miserable; so very, very
miserable, and oh, _so_ sorry! And, Father, Dick has forgiven him, and
calls him his "friend." What can any one say when _Dick_ forgives?'

'Nothing,' answered her father. 'Wright, my poor fellow, they say the
greater the sinner, the greater the saint; so there is your chance for
you. As for myself, I owe you a debt of gratitude which I can never
repay. So don't expect me to cast stones. Ah, you ask for Peet? Do you
wish to make your confession to him?'

'It is my duty, sir.'

Lord Lynwood was silent a moment, but Estelle exclaimed, in anxious
tones, 'Dear Father, this need not be told to everybody, need it? Only
to you and Aunt Betty, and Peet? Why is poor Jack to have---- '

'Certainly not,' returned Lord Lynwood, looking up. 'Wright, come with
me to Peet. He is a gruff sort of chap, but true blue at bottom. He will
take it hard at first, so I had better prepare you.'

(_Continued on page 367._)

[Illustration: "He could barely mutter the word--'Forgive!'"]

[Illustration: "Colonel Smith emptied the glass."]

STORIES FROM AFRICA.

XII.--DARKNESS AND DAWN.

[Illustration]

No one can rightly