t the boy's face evinced
no surprise, the expression of his own relaxed, and he continued
calmly,--"Enough; what I have thus rudely said was kindly meant. It is
a treason to a young man to let him count on a fortune which at last
is left away from him. Now, Lionel, go; enjoy your spring of life! Go,
hopeful and light-hearted. If sorrow reach you, battle with it; if
error mislead you, come fearlessly to me for counsel. Why, boy, what is
this?--tears? Tut, tut."

"It is your goodness," faltered Lionel. "I cannot help it. And is there
nothing I can do for you in return?"

"Yes, much. Keep your name free from stain, and your heart open to such
noble emotions as awaken tears like those. Ah, by the by, I heard from
my lawyer to-day about your poor little protegee. Not found yet, but he
seems sanguine of quick success. You shall know the moment I hear more."

"You will write to me, then, sir, and I may write to you?"

"As often as you please. Always direct to me here."

"Shall you be long abroad?"

Darrell's brows met. "I don't know," said he, curtly. "Adieu."

He opened the door as he spoke.

Lionel looked at him with wistful yearning, filial affection, through
his swimming eyes. "God bless you, sir," he murmured simply, and passed
away.

"That blessing should have come from me!" said Darrell to himself, as he
turned back, and stood on his solitary hearth. "But they on whose heads
I once poured a blessing, where are they,--where? And that man's tale,
reviving the audacious fable which the other, and I verily believe the
less guilty knave of the two, sought to palm on me years ago! Stop; let
me weigh well what he said. If it were true! Oh, shame, shame!"

Folding his arms tightly on his breast, Darrell paced the room with
slow, measured strides, pondering deeply. He was, indeed, seeking to
suppress feeling, and to exercise only judgment; and his reasoning
process seemed at length fully to satisfy him, for his countenance
gradually cleared, and a triumphant smile passed across it. "A
lie,--certainly a palpable and gross lie; lie it must and shall be.
Never will I accept it as truth. Father" (looking full at the portrait
over the mantel-shelf), "Father, fear not--never--never!"

BOOK III.

CHAPTER I.

Certes, the lizard is a shy and timorous creature. He runs into
chinks and crannies if you come too near to him, and sheds his very
tail for fear, if you catch it by the tip. He has not his bein