He had never before in all the two years they had been alone upon the island mentioned his wife and children.
"I left them to better my fortune," he continued.

"They were so helpless and I so poor; but I did what I thought best.

Last night I saw them in my dreams, her great bright eyes all red with weeping, and my baby's warm little hands were again about my neck imploring me to come home in accents so pathetic and sweet, they melted my heart.

My blue-eyed Robert was no longer gay, but melancholy.

O God, give me the wings of a dove that I may go and see them again!" His head fell on the table and his whole frame shook with emotion, while Blanche, with her own sad beautiful eyes swimming in tears, could not utter a word of consolation.