"If I knew what? Is mother worse? Why don't you answer? I will go in and see her!"
"Stop, Alfred," said the old man, quietly and solemnly; "Your mother is dead!"
[CHAPTER VII.]
THE IRON BOX.
The shock of the news sobered Alfred instantly; the full disgrace of his condition came upon him, and made him ashamed to look his sister in the face.
"You--you have been very hard to me, grandfather," he said hesitatingly.
"I have been to you as you deserved, Alfred. Has your conduct to-night been such as should make me affectionate to you?"
"I have no excuse to make," replied Alfred, thoroughly humbled; "but you will do me the justice to believe that it would not have been so with me had I known."
"The remorse of a too-late repentance, Alfred, is a bitter experience."
A resentful answer rose to Alfred's lips, but he checked it.