"No, indeed, cousin John," said Ada, "I am sure I could not--I am sure I would not--think any ill of Richard if the whole world did. I could, and I would, think better of him then than at any other time!"
So quietly and honestly she said it, with her hands upon his shoulders--both hands now--and looking up into his face, like the picture of truth!
"I think," said my guardian, thoughtfully regarding her, "I think it must be somewhere written that the virtues of the mothers shall occasionally be visited on the children, as well as the sins of the father. Good night, my rosebud. Good night, little woman. Pleasant slumbers! Happy dreams!"
This was the first time I ever saw him follow Ada with his eyes with something of a shadow on their benevolent expression. I well remembered the look with which he had contemplated her and Richard when she was singing in the firelight; it was but a very little while since he had watched them passing down the room in which the sun was shining, and away into the shade; but his glance was changed, and even the silent look of confidence in me which now followed it once more was not quite so hopeful and untroubled as it had originally been.

"No, indeed, cousin John," said Ada, "I am sure I could not think any ill of Richard if the whole world did. I would think better of him then than at any other time!"
Quietly and honestly she said it, looking up into his face, like the picture of truth!
"I think," said my guardian, thoughtfully regarding her, "that it must be somewhere written that the virtues of the mothers shall occasionally be visited on the children, as well as the sins of the fathers. Good night, my rosebud. Good night, little woman. Pleasant slumbers!"
This was the first time I ever saw him look at Ada with a shadow on his benevolent expression. I well remembered the look with which he had contemplated her and Richard when she was singing in the firelight, not long ago; but now his glance was changed, and was not quite so hopeful and untroubled as it had been.
