k was answered. Like the housekeeper, he had a deep sense of
Alma's coldness and bitterness towards her brother, and he understood
how Frans must have dreaded to meet her after his disgrace at the
examination. He understood, too, how much Frans must have feared his
displeasure; but that such a mother's son should be so degraded as to
consort with a thief and possibly share his guilt! The thought was
madness. He pictured the desperate boy, flying perhaps to a far
country, to suffer, and sin and go down to the lowest depths of
degradation. The prayer burst forth from the depths of the colonel's
heart, "God have mercy on my son! God have mercy on me, a sinner!"
There was a thoroughgoing penitence in that closed room. The colonel's
whole life stood before him, with all its shortcomings and its sins.
To the world it had been an outwardly blameless life, but within there
had been an uncertain faith, a half-heartedness, an indecision in his
inner life, that ill befitted one who so well knew the love and purity
of his heavenly Father. He cast himself upon his knees, to rise
forgiven, and strengthened to lead a decided, devoted Christian life.
With his own humiliation came back his tenderness towards his absent,
erring boy.

When the door was opened at last to Alma, she saw the traces of sorrow
and deep emotion on her father's face. She threw herself into his
arms, exclaiming, "Dear, dear papa!" She could say no more. He gently
closed the door by which she had entered. No human being ever knew the
words that then passed between them, but they were henceforward to be
bound together by a new and a holier tie than ever before.

CHAPTER XV.

THE BIRTHDAY GIFT.

In the midst of the shadow over the household at Ekero, Alma's birthday
had come. No festivities could be thought of. No birthday table was
decked for her with flowers and gifts. Her father had not even
remembered the fact that she was now eighteen years old until the
evening came on. The housekeeper, a thorough Swede in all things,
could not forget such an anniversary; but she was in no mood towards
Alma to prompt to any particular kindness in that direction, or any
festal preparations.

The father and daughter were sitting quietly together in the study in
the evening. "Alma," he began, "I have just remembered that it must be
your birthday. It has been a sad, neglected birthday for you, my
child; but it shall not pass altogether without notice.