“I am so glad for your own as well as for Imelda’s sake.”
This was her greeting and Cora understood, for her eyes filled with tears. Frank’s hand she took between both of hers and knelt at his side.
“And you are the brother I have so often heard her speak about. For Imelda’s sake you must be my brother also, as my own brother has been absent for so long a time I can scarce remember him.”
Frank’s face became sad and his eyes misty.
“O, but your own brother is so much more deserving than I. Would that my record were as clean.”
Margaret shook her head.
“Not so downcast and self-reproachful, my boy. We are so much the creatures of circumstances we cannot well help doing just the things we do. The past you have done with, only the future is yours, to make that what it should be will be your task, your duty, your pleasure.”
In his turn Frank shook his head.
“No! no! even that boon will be denied me. My bad deeds can’t be undone; to atone for them will not be permitted me. My days, my hours, even, are numbered. No, no, please don’t. I understand what you would say. Why should such a truth-loving woman as you seek to deceive me. I know it all, and I suppose it is best so. Look, there at your mother’s side another awaits to welcome you, one who is nearer and dearer to you than such a poor wreck of humanity as I could ever dare hope to be.”
Following the direction indicated by Frank Margaret saw, standing at her mother’s side, an arm thrown caressingly about her shoulders, a young man as yet almost a boy, fair sunny locks thrown carelessly back from a broad and open brow, a look of longing in the frank blue eyes, and suppressed emotion quivering about the sensitive mouth.