room reached to the ground, and without the
closing light just enabled one to see a thick copse of wood, which, at
a very brief interval of turf, darkened immediately opposite the house.
While the old man was thus bending over the fire and conning his evening
contemplations, a figure stole from the copse I have mentioned, and,
approaching the window, looked pryingly into the apartment; then with a
noiseless hand it opened the spring of the casement, which was framed on
a peculiar and old-fashioned construction, that required a practised
and familiar touch, entered the apartment, and crept on, silent and
unperceived by the inhabitant of the room, till it paused and stood
motionless, with folded arms, scarce three steps behind the high back of
the old man's chair.

In a few minutes the latter moved from his position, and slowly rose;
the abruptness with which he turned, brought the dark figure of the
intruder full and suddenly before him: he started back, and cried in an
alarmed tone, "Who is there?"

The stranger made no reply.

The old man, in a voice in which anger and pride mingled with fear,
repeated the question. The figure advanced, dropped the cloak in which
it was wrapped, and presenting the features of Clarence Linden, said, in
a low but clear tone,--

"Your son."

The old man dropped his hold of the bell-rope, which he had just before
seized, and leaned as if for support against the oak wainscot; Clarence
approached.

"Yes!" said he, mournfully, "your unfortunate, your offending, but
your guiltless son. More than five years I have been banished from your
house; I have been thrown, while yet a boy, without friends, without
guidance, without name, upon the wide world, and to the mercy of chance.
I come now to you as a man, claiming no assistance, and uttering no
reproach, but to tell you that him whom an earthly father rejected God
has preserved; that without one unworthy or debasing act I have won
for myself the friends who support and the wealth which dignifies
life,--since it renders it independent. Through all the disadvantages
I have struggled against I have preserved unimpaired my honour, and
unsullied my conscience; you have disowned, but you might have claimed
me without shame. Father, these hands are clean!"

A strong and evident emotion shook the old man's frame. He raised
himself to his full height, which was still tall and commanding, and in
a voice, the natural harshness of which was rendere