It was the first time for years, that he had been able to feel towards this cold strange man, as a father and a comforter.

For the first time he saw tears in the cold eyes of his son, and could feel the joy of wiping them away.

He seized the opportunity at once, and bending clown over the groaning form, kissed his forehead, raised him from the ground and said gently: "Forgive my anger, my son! the words that have grieved thee came not from my heart, but were spoken in the haste of wrath.

Many years hast thou angered me by thy coldness, hardness and obstinacy; to-day thou hast wounded me again in my most sacred feelings; this hurried me into an excess of wrath.

But now all is right between us.