These, and other like objects, all of which testified to the manly, innocent, and noble nature of their former owner--household gods loved and prized by their once possessor--the old man moved among, and saw as if in a dream. Too late his eyes were opened to the treasure he had neglected, and to the treasure he had lost. In his banished son burned as knightly and as chivalrous a soul as had ever ennobled any of his ancestors, and the Squire felt now, that in the contemplation and worship of the Dead Past and of the Dead he had neglected the Living, and had sacrificed the all-important latter to the little-important former. Then he thought of his young wife, who had just time, ere her pure soul took flight, to kiss and bless the Babe, whom, almost grown to man’s estate, he had himself disinherited and cast out in shame and poverty. And this thought softened him, and anon he sent for Evelyn to come to him in the lost boy’s room, and there, amidst all his belongings, he told her of the certainty of her brother’s innocence. Hearing this, Evelyn shed tears of joy, not because her Wilfred was innocent--that she _knew_ already--but because his good name was vindicated; and then she shed tears of sorrow because he was she knew not where, and at any rate far out of reach of the news that would be as balm to his wounded soul. On the day following, two letters of importance as regards this history were received at the Manor. The first of these was addressed to Mr. Manwaring, and was written by Lord Guttleborough. His lordship, who was the head of the great Banking firm which bore his family name, and a man of almost fabulous wealth, amidst the grief and shame which he felt on account of the crime of his son and heir, had thought of, and had felt deeply for, the father and son whom his own son had injured so deeply. He wrote accordingly to express the sorrow he felt for both; and in entreating Mr. Manwaring’s forgiveness, he hinted in the most delicate manner, that if from his position or influence he could in any way, or at any time, be of use in promoting the welfare of his son, he would esteem it a privilege to use them in his behalf. Lord Guttleborough’s letter was essentially that of a gentleman, and, spite of his old contempt for _parvenus_, the Squire, in his softened mood, recognised it as such, and felt proportionately grateful. The other letter was addressed to Wilfred; and after the Squire had opened and read it, and re-read it countless times, he gave it to Evelyn for perusal. When, in the course of events, it again came into her hands, she preserved it amongst her choicest treasures. As it contained an account of several circumstances which I should otherwise have to recount in my own words, I will quote it at length in the next chapter. CHAPTER XII. THE DUKE OF RIBBLESDALE’S LETTER. Ehrenbreitstein. _Tuesday._ MY DEAR MANWARING,