The baronet was clouded by his son's reception of his
graciousness. His grateful prospect had formerly been
Richard's marriage — ^the culmination of his System.
Richard had destroyed his participation in that. He now
looked for a pretty scene in recompense: — ^Richard leading
up his wife to him, and both being welcomed by him pa-
ternally, and so held one ostentatious minute in his em-
brace.
He said: 'before you return, I demur to receiving
her."

"Very well, sir," replied his son, and stood as if he had
spoken all.
"Really you tempt me to fancy you already regret your
rash proceeding!" the baronet exclaimed; and the next
moment it pained him he had uttered the words, Richard's
eyes were so sorrowfully fierce. It pained him, but he
divined in that look a history, and he could not refrain
from glancing acu'fcely and a^ing: "Do you?"

"Rci^ret it, sir?" The question aroused one of those
struggles in the young man's breast whicL % passionate
storm of tears may still, and which sink like leaden death
into the soul when tears come not. Richard's eyes had the
light of the desert.
**Do you?" his father repeated. "Yea tempt me — ^I
almost fear you do." At the thought — ^for he expressed
his mind — the pity that he had for Richard was not pure
gold.
