re----"

"I say No; and you know when I have once said a thing I mean it."

CHAPTER XXVII.

Rudolf, after a pause, began once more--

"You have a good heart, Francis. Ah! I know your reasons. You think I
am returned again like the prodigal son, with an empty purse, 'after
eating of the husks which the swine did eat.' It is just the contrary."

"Don't be profane, Rudolf," said Francis, severely.

"But it is true--I bring money with me, over two hundred dollars in
clean greenbacks, as a commencement of restitution, an earnest of
my reform. What do you think my father would say if he found them
to-morrow morning on his pillow? Don't you think he would receive me
with open arms?"

"No, Rudolf, certainly not. You have broken your word of honour,
and for this your father will never forgive you. Don't talk of
restitution. What is this sum in comparison with what you have
cost him, and all the suffering you have caused him and me? Such
sacrifices as we had made gave us the right to hope you would leave
us in peace--forget us."

Rudolf bowed down his head and heaved a deep sigh. I could not help
pitying the unfortunate man. I should have liked to say something
in his favour; but the cold, haughty, nay, contemptuous attitude of
Francis seemed to impose silence on me. There must be some reason,
I felt sure, for her inexorable severity; consequently I remained a
passive spectator.

At length Rudolf roused himself from his despondency, drank off a glass
of water, and, turning towards Francis, said in his most serious tone--

"Just listen, Miss Mordaunt. It appears to me that, under the pretext
of acting as guardian to my father, you oppose a reconciliation between
us, without even consulting his wishes; and it is strange that a niece,
a granddaughter only, should usurp the position of the eldest son,
and refuse to listen to the returning prodigal."

"Don't talk to me about your prodigal son," cried Francis, angrily;
"you are not the prodigal son. It is only a passing whim, and you will
be carried away again to-morrow by some new idea as you always were."

"Don't you be afraid you will lose anything by it," he said in a
bitter tone; "you know I shall never lay claim to my father's property,
even though we were reconciled."

"Must I then be suspected of cupidity, and by you indeed!" exclaimed
Francis, in the greatest indignation.

"I should never accuse you of anything of the sort. On the contrary,
I am