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own tormented heart.

"Yes," said she, "you love me as one loves a jewel, and has it set
in gold in order to make it more brilliant. You loved me as a costly
ornament of your rooms, as something which gave you an opportunity of
exercising the splendor of your liberality, and to be produced as an
evidence of your renowned wealth. But you did not love me as a father;
you did not perceive that I wept in secret, or if you did see it, you
consoled me with diamonds, with rich dresses, to make me smile. But
you did not give me your father's heart. At last the rich man's child
discovers a happiness not to be bought with gold or treasures, a
happiness that the millions of her father could not purchase for
her. This happiness is--love. The only possession that I have owned,
father, contrary to your will, you have deprived me of, because it was
mine against your will. Now, poor rich man, take all your gold,
and seek and buy yourself a child with it. Me you have lost!" and
staggering back with a sob, she sank fainting on the carpet.

A dread silence now reigned in the room. Gotzkowsky stood motionless,
with his eyes directed toward heaven. The cruel, mocking words of
his daughter sounded over and over again in his ears, and seemed to
petrify the power of his will and chain him fast, as if rooted to the
floor. Gradually he recovered from this apathy of grief. The stagnant
blood revived in his veins, and shot like burning streams of fire to
his heart. He bent over his daughter, and gazing for a long time at
her, his features assumed a gentler and softer expression. Tenderly
with his hand he smoothed the tresses from her clear, high forehead;
and as he did so, he almost smiled again, so beautiful and charming
did she seem to him in her death-like repose.

"She has fainted," whispered he, low, as if fearful of awakening
her. "So much the better for her; and when she recovers, may she have
forgotten all the cruel words that she has uttered!"

He laid his hand on her head as if to bless her, and love and
forgiveness were expressed in his looks. A perfect peace seemed to
pervade his whole frame. In this moment he forgave her all the pain,
all the suffering she had caused him. He pardoned her those unjust
reproaches and accusations, and with lofty emotion, raising his eyes
toward heaven, he exclaimed, "O God! thou seest my heart. Thou knowest
that love alone has possession of its very depths, love to my child!
and my child has no fa