“My child!” he said.
“What is it?” inquired Miss Manners, in a tone of alarm.
“Have you,” he continued, “forgotten my injunctions?”
Miss Manners cast her eyes on the ground, and seemed displeased at being taken to task before a stranger.
Jones, observing her embarrassment, said—
“Sir, I shall be sorry if my presence here should occasion you any uneasiness. Believe me, I am the last person in the world to intrude where I am not welcome. It will, no doubt, cost me a pang, sir; but if it be your wish that I should not see your daughter more, I shall try to tear my heart from her—I shall go and hide myself in obscurity, and endeavour to forget all I have most loved in this world!”
Mr. Manners raised his hand, as if commanding silence, and gazed stedfastly on his daughter. The latter looked up to him with tears in her eyes, and exclaimed—
“I think Mr. Jones is innocent!”
“He is innocent,” said the old man, emphatically. “Come to my arms, both!”
Both moved forward and took the hand he offered, but with amazement depicted on their countenances.