"Why, uncle, I's dot a papa, hasn't I?" she asked, catching in an understanding way only the first half of his remark; "Mrs. Murray tells me 'bout him sometimes."
"Yes; so you have," he said, "but he isn't here to take care of his little lassie, you know."
"I wis' he was! I wis' he'd come dus' now!
"And my mamma in heaven where Jesus is," she prattled on, "my sweet, pretty mamma," and pulling at a gold chain about her neck, she drew out from the bosom of her gown a miniature set in gold and diamonds, a likeness of a very beautiful young girl.
"Dear mamma, sweet, pretty mamma!" she repeated, fondly kissing the pictured face.
"Let me look at it, Elsie," he said, as she was about to return it to its hiding place.
"The bonniest face I ever saw," he mused half aloud, gazing intently upon it. "Woe's me that the sods of the valley should ha' covered it from sight sae soon! Was I wrong! Eh, how could I know that she cared so much for that wild youth? I thought it was the gowd he was after, and I think so still."
But he heaved a profound remorseful sigh, as he relinquished the miniature to its rightful owner.
As he did so he caught sight of Aunt Chloe standing near, her dark eyes fixed on him with an expression of keenest sorrow, mingled with reproach.
"She blames me," he thought uneasily. "Well, well, I meant it all for the best."