It was a noble, attractive face, and as he looked, the shock of repulsion which he had at first experienced passed, and in its place came a tender pity and affection born of sympathy and the knowledge that this was his kin—his brother. At Lady Ruxley’s word he went eagerly toward him, and clasping his hand in a strong, protecting clasp, exclaimed: “My brother! How glad I am for the gift, even though it comes so late. Shall we begin to love each other now, Herbert?” The two men—one so strong, handsome, and self-reliant in his glorious manhood, the other so weak and helpless in his deformity—gazed into each other’s eyes with a look which seemed to read their very souls, and the tears started unbidden to each. “God bless you, my brother!” murmured Herbert Randal, with quivering lips, while a deep joy, such as he had never known in all his life before, thrilled him through and through. Isabel Coolidge, looking on and beholding this scene, saw herself in a new light. She was bowed with shame and humiliation at the thought of her own selfish, wasted life, while she realized the grandness of Sir Charles’ nature as she had never done before, and knew she was unfit to mate with him. She knew, also, although he had spoken no word to that effect, that that hour would probably separate them forever. “Charles! Charles! my dear boy!” cried Lady Ruxley, in trembling tones, while tears rained over her wrinkled face, “I hoped you would stand this test of character nobly. I have always been proud of you, but God knows that I love you at this moment with a deeper love than ever before.” “Dear aunt, surely you did not expect I should reject my brother?” he said, in surprise, then added, as he saw how affected she was: “Come, let me take you to a seat.” He led her to a comfortable chair, and then, while Lord Dunforth and his party exchanged greetings with his brother, he went and stood once more before his mother. “Mother,” he began, in low but firm tones, “I will not upbraid you for this cruel wrong, for I know that your own conscience will reprove you more sharply than I have the heart to do; but I wish it to be distinctly understood that Herbert and I are henceforth to live upon terms of equality. Whatever I have of this world’s goods that he can share, he shall share, and I bespeak for him in the future your tenderest love and care, and the respect and consideration of the entire household.” Lady Randal could only reply by cries and sobs; she was utterly unnerved. The plottings of a lifetime had been brought to naught in an hour. He then turned his attention to Mrs. Coolidge, who was sitting, sullen and crestfallen, near by.