"Grandpa, forgive me," she wailed. "I shall die if you do not say that you will pardon me!"
He did not answer her. He only looked at his old black servant.
"Dinah, you may leave us," he said, sorrowfully, "I had hoped to keep the secret all my life; but the time has come when I must reveal to my grandchild her mother's story."
"Um-me-e e," groaned the old negress. "Sh, I t'ought it was a brack day when John Glenalvan kem here dat mornin' a-askin' ole massa to shut my pore chile up like a crim'nal."
"Hush, Dinah," the old man repeated, pointing to the door. She went out, and Golden turned her beautiful eyes, like blue violets drowned in tears, upon his pale, drawn face.
"Oh, grandpa," she cried, "you will tell me something of my mother at last. I have so longed to hear something of my mother and my father."
A groan forced itself through Hugh Glenalvan's livid lips.
"Your desire shall be gratified," he replied. "But the telling will cost you great sorrow, child."
Her beautiful face grew white and scared.
"Oh, grandpa," she cried, "then Elinor and Clare told the truth. My poor mother——"