“Yes.”
“The daughter is as pure and true, as refined and accomplished, as was her mother. Now you understand me. In heart, she is my next akin. If I were her father, I could not love her more. The indignities she has suffered in this house, and at your hands, Madeline, have cut me sharply, and they pain, even now, like freshly-opened wounds. It will be hard for me either to forget or forgive them, for they struck like arrows, in tenderest places.”
Mrs. Dainty was speechless with surprise, and the pallor of her countenance increased. Mr. Dainty ventured no remark.
“I did not wish to make this revelation now,” said Mr. Fleetwood. “But you have forced it upon me. My hope was that you would be clear-seeing enough to comprehend her true character, and give her a place by your side because she was worthy to sit there. I thought that you would be able to comprehend the force of what I said just now about the importance of making your children’s trusted companion and instructor your social equal, in order that she might all the while be lifting them up toward the elevated position you desired them to occupy. But pride obscured true perception. And so I have been forced to an earlier declaration than I desired of my adopted daughter’s true relation.”
“Adopted daughter!” Mrs. Dainty looked confounded.
“Even so, Madeline. Even so! And, as I have said, if she were my own child I could not love her more tenderly. True, wise, noble-hearted, self-abnegating girl! To me it is a cause of wonder that your eyes were not able to see the angel in your house.”
“I am bewildered, Uncle John,” said Mrs. Dainty, greatly subdued. “Leave me now, that I may collect my thoughts.”
“As you collect them,” replied Mr. Fleetwood, “I pray you to examine each with the closest care. Only true thoughts lead to right actions. Let there be no error in your summing up,—no fatal defect in your conclusions. There are two paths diverging before you: Madeline, spoiled child of a dear sister! beware, lest you take the wrong one!”
And he went, in evident agitation, from the room.