"Now let me remove your bonnet and shawl.

How wretched you look, poor, misguided one! I could have laid you in the grave with less agony than I feel in seeing you thus." Her heart was touched at this, and tears fell over her face.

In the selfishness of her own sternly-borne trouble, she had forgotten the sorrow she was bringing to her father's heart.
"Poor child! poor child!" sobbed the old man, as he sat down beside Irene and drew her head against his breast.

And so both wept together for a time.

After they had grown calm, Mr.Delancy said-- "Tell me, Irene, without disguise of any kind, the meaning of this step which you have so hastily taken.