returned to the cedar.

"Now, sir, let us conclude this matter at once. You ask the hand of my
daughter in marriage. I refuse it. You are here under my roof an
unexpected and unbidden guest. From this hour you cease to be welcome."

"My lord, had I never known you in the past, never served you in an
unlawful desire, you would not have dared to address me in this fashion.
If you and I meet to bandy insults, it is because the past has left no
mutual respect between us; but I have this advantage over you; the sins
which have drawn on me even your contempt have been long since repented
of, while yours, compared to which mine fade into innocence, seem but to
have hardened into pride."

Lord Hope smiled.

"Of what crime does Mr. Hepworth Closs charge me?"

"I make no special charge, Lord Hope; but there is an old woman in
America suffering the penalty of a crime which she never
committed--which you know she never committed."

"The law decided otherwise, if I remember rightly," answered the earl,
in a quiet, calm voice. "But even if it did not, does that relate to the
question in hand?"

"No, no, and I am to blame in mentioning it--Heaven knows I wish to
think the best! I admit, my lord, your prejudices against me would have
been just when we knew each other so well; but I was very young then and
can fairly claim to have worked out an honorable redemption from the
faults of my youth. Believe me, I have won more than a respectable
position among men; have wealth from my own exertions enough to satisfy
even your wishes. True, I have not the rank to match yours; but there
was a time when you thought it no disgrace to mate with my family."

Lord Hope was moved out of his proud calm now. He lifted his hand with a
suddenness that was threatening, and cried out:

"Peace, sir! I have heard enough of this!"

"But I must remind you again that Lady Hope is my only sister, and in
these insults you degrade her."

"Degrade her, when she is my wife!"

These words were drawn out with proud emphasis that stung Hepworth like
a wasp.

"My lord," he said, "I will bear much from you, because I once loved
you, but more from the fact that you are my sister's husband and _her_
father; but I warn you not even by a tone to cast reproach or slur upon
your wife. She became such against my wishes and in spite of my protest.
That lady has all the elements of greatness within herself."

"What right had you to wish or protest?"

"The self