And now his heart was filled only with a great tenderness and love for his daughter.

He wanted to see her miserable, and to share with her his despair; but he wanted it only as all weak natures long for a companionship in misfortune with beings innocent of its cause.

If she suffered herself she would understand and pity him; but now she would not, or could not, find one word of comfort or love for him in his dire extremity.

The sense of his absolute loneliness came home to his heart with a force that made him shudder.

He swayed and fell forward with his face on the table, his arms stretched straight out, extended and rigid.
Nina made a quick movement towards her father and stood looking at the grey head, on the broad shoulders shaken convulsively by the violence of feelings that found relief at last in sobs and tears.
Nina sighed deeply and moved away from the table.