18/24 Who could dream that you would ever even live, without kith or kin to care for you? But when you were such a poor little relic, and your father could scarcely have seen you, to have such a mite left must have been almost a mockery of happiness. That motive could not have been strong enough to prevent a man of proud honor from doing what honor at once demanded. Your father would have returned and surrendered as soon as he heard of his dear wife's death, if in the balance there had been only you." "Yes, Mr.Shovelin, perhaps he would. |