rom suspecting the
true cause of his daughter's disquiet. "Damn it, man, Davus sum non
OEdipus. Speak out plainly, and if your conduct has been, as you say,
consistent with your honour, trust to an old friend to forgive you.
Zounds, boy, I have been young myself, and can make allowance for the
waywardness of youth. Been gaming a little too high, hey; well, the
rest[19] was not so low in my day, but that I can excuse that, if you
didn't 'pull down the side.'"[20]

"I would fain do the young man a service, for I bear him no ill-will,
though he has treated me a little harshly," said Bernard, as he saw
Hansford silently endeavouring to frame a reply in the most favourable
terms, "I see he is ashamed of his cause, and well he may be; for you
must know that he has become a great man of late, and has linked his
fate to a certain Nathaniel Bacon."

The old loyalist started as he heard this unexpected announcement, then
with a deep sigh, which seemed to come from his very soul, he turned to
Hansford and said, "My boy, deny the foul charge; say it is not so."

"It is, indeed, true," replied Hansford, mournfully, "but when--"

"But when the devil!" cried the old man, bursting into a fit of rage;
"and you expect me to stand here and listen to your justification.
Zounds, sir, I would feel like a traitor myself to hear you speak. And
this is the serpent that I have warmed and cherished at my hearth-stone.
Out of my house, sir!"

"To think," chimed in Mrs. Temple, for once agreeing fully with her
husband, "how near our family, that has always prided itself on its
loyalty, was being allied to a traitor. But he shall never marry
Virginia, I vow."

"No, by God," said the enraged loyalist; "she should rot in her grave
first."

"Miss Temple is already released from her engagement," said Hansford,
recovering his calmness in proportion as the other party lost their's.
"She is free to choose for herself, sir."

"And that choice shall never light on you, apostate," cried Temple,
"unless she would bring my grey hairs in sorrow to the grave."

"And mine, too," said the old lady, beginning to weep.

"I will not trouble you longer with my presence," said Hansford,
proudly, "except to thank you for past kindness, which I can never
forget. Farewell, Colonel Temple, I respect your prejudices, though they
have led you to curse me. Farewell, Mrs. Temple, I will ever think of
your generous hospitality with gratitude. Farewell, Virginia, forg