“And are you willing to sacrifice all your rights to those who have supplanted you—who have lived all their lives upon your heritage?” demanded Mrs. Alexander, excitedly.
“Mamma,” Virgie answered, sitting up and meeting her mother’s flashing eye with a proud look, “leaving the innocent out of the question entirely, I scorn to accept anything from the man who has so wronged you; I would not be recognized as his child; I would not be known by his name, were he allied to royalty itself.”
Mrs. Alexander leaned forward and kissed the beautiful girl, clasping her fondly to her.
“Ah, my darling, you are not lacking in spirit, in spite of your forgiving nature,” she said; “but justice demands that he shall make you restitution; that must be part of his punishment.”
Then turning to Rupert she continued:
“You are a man, just and true, Mr. Hamilton; you have heard my story as a disinterested witness, and are therefore capable of judging with an unprejudiced mind; I ask you, is it right that I should demand for my child the position and inheritance that belong to her?”
And Rupert Hamilton replied, gravely, decidedly:
“It is right; a great wrong has been done both you and Virgie, and it is but just that it should be atoned for as far as may be—if not willingly, then by compulsion.”
The young man little realized that he was passing sentence upon his respected and well-beloved guardian; but he had been greatly shocked by the story to which he had listened, and he deemed no punishment too severe for him who had been guilty of such wrong.
Virgie sighed at his verdict. She never could bear the thought of giving pain to others, and she shrank almost with loathing from meeting one who had caused her mother so much unhappiness.