seemed to
supplicate as for pardon to an offence of his own--rapid transitions
from enthusiasm to pity, from joy to grief--variable, with the stormy
April of a young, fresh, hearty nature.

Taken so wholly by surprise, Waife, in vain attempting to appear cold
and distant, and only very vaguely comprehending what the unwelcome
visitor so confusedly expressed, at last found voice to interrupt the
jet and gush of Lionel's impetuous emotion, and said as drily as he
could: "I am really at a loss to conceive the cause of what appears to
be meant as congratulations to me and reproaches to yourself, Mr.--, Mr.
Haugh--;" his lips could not complete the distasteful name.

"My name shocks you--no wonder," said Lionel, deeply mortified,
and bowing down his head as he gently dropped the old man's hand.
"Reproaches to myself!--Ah, sir, I am here as Charles Haughton's son!"

"What!" exclaimed Waife, "you know? How could you know that Charles
Haughton--"

LIONEL (interrupting).--"I know. His own lips confessed his shame to
have so injured you."

WAIFE.--"Confessed to whom?"

LIONEL.--"To Alban Morley. Relieve me, my father's remorse was bitter;
it dies not in his grave, it lives in me. I have so longed to meet with
William Losely."

Waife seated himself in silence, shading his face with one hand while
with the other he made a slight gesture, as if to discourage or rebuke
farther allusion to ancient wrong. Lionel, in quick accents, but more
connected meaning, went on--

"I have just come from Mr. Darrell, where I and Colonel Morley (here
Lionel's countenance was darkly troubled) have been staying some days.
Two days ago I received this letter from George Morley, forwarded to me
from London. It says--let me read it: 'You will rejoice to learn that
our dear Waife'--pardon that name."

"I have no other--go on."

"'Is once more with his grandchild.'" (Here Lionel sighed heavily--sigh
like Sophy's.) "'You will rejoice yet more to learn that it has pleased
Heaven to allow me and another witness, who, some years ago, had been
misled into condemning Waife, to be enabled to bear incontrovertible
testimony to the complete innocence of my beloved friend; nay, more--I
say to you most solemnly, that in all which appeared to attest guilt,
there has been a virtue, which, if known to Mr. Darrell, would make him
bow in reverence to that old man. Tell Mr. Darrell so from me; and
add, that in saying it, I express my conviction of his own admi