She took his hand again, and looking tenderly in his troubled face, answered gravely:
“I think, John, indeed, I think, that you had better do as Mr. Hay advises. It would be dreadful for that poor girl to hear of her misfortune facing all those people in there! And you know the man who betrayed her and committed countless other crimes must be exposed in public and then expelled from the house.”
Julia Legg spoke as she thought, but, in fact, Ran had no intention of turning the wretch in question out of doors in this freezing winter night.
“Julia, my dear, I have such confidence in your judgment that I will do as you say,” replied John Legg in a low voice. Then turning to Ran, he said:
“Mr. Hay, I am deeply grateful to you for all the aid and comfort and counsel you give me. You may, sir, if you please, bring or send my poor child to me.”
“I will do so at once,” said Ran, and he arose and left the room.
“And I will stand by you through all, John. I will be as good a mother to your unhappy girl as I am a true wife to you,” said Julia, still holding his hand in hers.
CHAPTER XXV
FATHER AND DAUGHTER
And so they waited in suspense for a few moments until the door opened and Mr. Leegh entered, as usual, with his head thrown back, his nose in the air, and his sister on his arm. His head was bowed upon her breast, and her face was pale and her eyes red and swollen.
John Legg arose and went to meet her with trembling nerves and outstretched arms. He was but a little over fifty years of age, yet for the last few hours he looked to be over seventy.