But he will reward you--I know he will.

Henceforward he will be as much your son as mine." "I hope so.

And now good-night, my dear." "Good-night--God bless you." Mrs.Bruce knelt down beside the chair, and touched with her lips the poor, useless hands.
"Helen," said the earl as she rose, "kiss me--just once--as I remember your doing when I was a boy--a poor, lonely, miserable boy." She kissed him very tenderly, then went away and left him sitting there in his little chair, opposite the fire, alone in the large, splendid, empty room.
* * * * * Helen Bruce could not sleep that night.

Either the day's excitement had been too much for her, or she was disturbed by the wild winds that went shrieking round the Castle, reminding her over and over again of what the earl had just said concerning them.

There came into her mind an uneasy feeling about her father, whom for so many years she had never left a night alone; but it was useless regretting this now.