“Heaven knows that it was not from cowardice——”
“Who ever accused, or dreamed of accusing, any Force of cowardice? We have no experimental knowledge of the meaning of that word,” said Abel Force.
“No, we have not. It was not the thought of death, then, for I could meet death or deal death in the cause of duty. No; it was the foreshadowing of a great remorse. It began with the feeling that I could not, dared not, pray last night.”
“Dear lad! But you can pray to-night, Le?”
“Yes; I can pray and give thanks to-night.”
“And now you are my own dear son again, Le.”
“Oh, Uncle Abel, if I might, indeed, be your son again! If I might be reinstated in the position, the happiness, I once enjoyed in my relations, present and prospective, with you and your family!”
“What do you mean, my dear Le? And yet I need not ask you, for I know.”
“Odalite!” breathed the youth, in low, yet thrilling, tones.
“Ah, would to Heaven, my boy, that none had ever come between you!” sighed Abel Force.