The next
moment Pride would have entered, but Dick waved him back with a gesture
of command.

"What--do you not know your old friend?" cried Pride.

"I know my old tempter," said the boy, with emotion. "Pride, I have
lately suffered much, but I have not suffered in vain; I have lost
much, but I have gained something also--a knowledge of myself, and of
you! Here let us part, and for ever."

"This is some delusion of a fevered brain!" cried Pride, beginning to
look very angry.

"No, my fever has passed away, and with it all my vain delusions. To
think myself superior to all others was a delusion; to think that Pride
would make me happy was a delusion: to think that a well-furnished head
could make up for a haughty and selfish heart, that was the worst
delusion of all!"

Pride still lingered, unwilling to depart, or to give up one whom he had
so long regarded as his slave; but the sound of footsteps was now heard,
and Lubin and Nelly appeared at the door. The little girl cast an
uneasy, frightened glance at Pride, who scowled darkly on her in return.
But Duty and Affection, the beautiful sisters, were accompanying the
children to their home, and Pride, bold as he was, shrank back abashed
at their calm, majestic presence.

Dick, though languid and weak, nerved himself now for a great and
painful effort. He had never been accustomed to own himself wrong, and
the thought of doing so, not privately but openly, in the presence of so
many witnesses, brought the warm blood to his pallid cheek, and made his
heart throb with excitement. But he knew no better way of proving to
Pride that his empire indeed was over; no better way of making amends to
Nelly for past unkindness and scorn. Raising himself, therefore, and
supporting his weak frame by grasping the table beside him, he uttered
these words, in a clear and distinct, though somewhat tremulous
tone:--"Nelly, before all, I ask your forgiveness for past unkind and
foolish conduct, and thank you for the tender care which I have so
little deserved; and I also ask Lubin's pardon"--here Dick turned
towards his brother--"for having often provoked him by rude and mocking
words."

Nelly's only reply was running forward and throwing her arms around
Dick; Lubin warmly grasped his hand; Pride, grinding his teeth with
suppressed fury, glared for a moment at the three, then, turning round
with something like a yell, rushed away from the spot. Let us hope that
he never returned!