About eleven his daughter came to him as he sat in the study. It can hardly be said that he had ever been kind to Marie, but perhaps she was the only person who in the whole course of his career had received indulgence at his hands. He had often beaten her; but he had also often made her presents and smiled on her, and in the periods of his opulence, had allowed her pocket-money almost without limit. Now she had not only disobeyed him, but by most perverse obstinacy on her part had driven him to acts of forgery which had already been detected. He had cause to be angry now with Marie if he had ever had cause for anger. But he had almost forgotten the transaction. He had at any rate forgotten the violence of his own feelings at the time of its occurrence. He was no longer anxious that the release should be made, and therefore no longer angry with her for her refusal.
"Papa," she said, coming very gently into the room, "I think that perhaps I was wrong yesterday."
"Of course you were wrong;--but it doesn't matter now."

About eleven his daughter came to him as he sat in the study. It can hardly be said that he had ever been kind to Marie, but perhaps she was the only person who had ever received indulgence at his hands. He had often beaten her; but he had also often made her presents and smiled on her. Now she had not only disobeyed him, but by her obstinacy had driven him to acts of forgery. He had cause to be angry with Marie. But he had almost forgotten the transaction. He had at any rate forgotten the violence of his own feelings.
"Papa," she said, "I think that perhaps I was wrong yesterday."
"Of course you were wrong; but it doesn't matter now."
