CHAPTER XII
THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN
The Right Reverend Leonidas McLaren, Bishop of Durham, paced his room with nervous tread that was uncommon with him. He was thinking, and every few moments he turned to look at his wife, who had been engaged with a piece of embroidery upon her lap. The day was closing, and a soft melody from the piano, at which the young daughter sat, was the only sound which broke the stillness of the twilight hour. Frequently at this hour the little family found themselves indulging in thoughts of the sad experience which had come to them. More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected—a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
"Tomorrow would have been his anniversary day," murmured the mother, sadly, "who knows, but that, after all, he may come back."
"My dear," said the bishop, pausing in front of her, and laying his hand gently upon her shoulder, "I think we mistake in trying to deceive ourselves. It is better to cultivate the spirit of resignation."
At this moment, Joseph, the house man, entered and quietly approaching the bishop, handed him a card. Glancing at the card, the bishop said: "Conduct him to the reception room. I will be there presently." Written with pencil on the card were the words: "A stranger desires to see you." That was all.
The bishop laid the card upon the stand by his wife's side and left the room.
The visitor's back was toward the bishop as he entered. He wore a long duster, and held his hat in his hand. The bishop's quiet salutation caused the man to turn partially around, and at the sight of his face the bishop started slightly and asked: "Whom have I the pleasure of addressing?"
"Father! Don't you know me?" burst from the visitor's lips, and then his eyes fell, as if he were overwhelmed with a sense of shame and remorse.
The bishop raised his hand in a gesture of blank amazement. Surely this mature man could not possibly be his son!