"It is not for Ben Taleb to go against the will of the one who saved his child. Take, then, his miserable life, oh, remarkable woman; and as for me, I have learned a lesson."
Again he claps his hands, and the armed retainers disappear. Peace once more smiles upon the scene.
Sister Magdalen turns to her husband, and they converse in low tones, yet with an earnestness that leaves no room for doubt of their sincerity.
Presently John sees his father motion, and he joins them.
"My boy, your mother has forgiven me. Heaven knows I do not merit such action, but she is an earthly angel. And I want to ask you if you can also forgive me, because through my actions you have all these years been deprived of a mother's love?"
His contrite manner, his dejected attitude—these things would go far toward influencing John even were his heart hardened toward the unfortunate author of all this misery, which it is not.
"Ah! father, with such an example before me how could I entertain hard feelings? The past is gone. Why should we live in it. Better that we look forward toward the future and endeavor to find happiness. You know Heaven works in a mysterious way, and much good has come to the world at large through our suffering."
"Then you do forgive, my boy?"
"There is nothing to forgive, sir. Let us strive to forget the past and hope that years of happiness may be before us."
"Ah! John, you have her spirit," sighs his father, as he wrings his boy's hand.