"Don't, Lew. Dear brother, you long ago made restitution, and have paid a hard penalty for your folly."
"Yes, I have paid; that is a comfort. It doesn't excuse my past misdeeds, the borrowing a little more, a little more, hoping in the end to realize so much that it would be easy to pay back. It doesn't excuse that, but that I have lived to be honored and respected means much."
A spasm of pain passed over his face. "I am afraid you are tired, you are suffering," said Miss Elliott anxiously.
"A little maybe, but it will soon be over. Another swallow of the medicine maybe will be best."
She gave it to him and he lay quite still for a few minutes, then he turned his eyes upon her wistfully. "You promise she shall not know, Camilla."
"I promise she shall never think ill of her father. Before they are married I shall tell Kenneth the story of your love and sacrifice, and if any knowledge of that cloudy past should ever come to Gwen, I shall say to Kenneth that he must let her know the truth, so she will know how truly noble her father was. That is only justice, Lew. It is what my father would wish I am sure. I will consent to all else, to allowing the cloud to rest entirely upon you, so far as the world is concerned, but if there is ever a shadow of doubt in Gwen's mind it must be cleared so far as possible. You allow that I am right, Lew. It would be my father's wish, poor, proud, mistaken father!" The tears fell upon the hand she held.
"There, Camilla, there! It is past and gone. It may be he and I will meet in another world where we can straighten it all out."
"And Lillian, too. She will know, perhaps. In that other world our eyes must be opened to our earthly errors, and she will understand. That other life must surely compensate if there is any merit in noble sacrifice."
"I believe it will be all right. You will let them lay me there, over on the island, where I have been able to hold up my head among men?"
"I, Lew? Why should I raise a finger to prevent the carrying out of any wish of yours?"