"I have no doubt it does," replied Charlotte. "Mrs. Home shall have it all." "Well, I hope so, young lady, and soon, too. It seems to me she has had her share of poverty." "She has had, as you say, her share of that evil. Mr. Wilson," again raising her eyes to his face, "I know Mrs. Home." "You know her? You know my niece Charlotte personally? She did not tell me that." "Yes, I know her. I should like to see her now." "You would?--I am surprised! Why?" "That I might go down on my knees to her." "Well, good gracious! young lady, I supposed you might feel sorry, but I did not know you would humble yourself to that extent. It was not _your_ sin." "Hush! It was my father's sin. I am his child. I would go lower than my knees--I would lie on the ground that she might walk over me, if the better in that position I might plead for mercy." "For mercy? Ay, that's all very well, but Charlotte must have her rights. Sandy Wilson must see to that." "She shall have her rights! And yet I would see her if I could, and if I saw her I would go on my knees and plead for mercy." "I don't understand you, Miss Harman." "I do not suppose you do. Will you have patience with me while I explain myself?" "I have come here to talk to you and to listen to you," said Wilson. "Sir, I must tell you of my father, that man whom you (and I do not wonder) consider so bad--so low! When I read that will yesterday--when I saw with my own eyes what a fraud had been committed, what a great, great evil had been done, I felt in my first misery that I almost hated my father! I said to myself, 'Let him be punished!' I would have helped you then to bring him to punishment. I think you saw that?" "I did, Miss Harman. I can see as far through a stone wall as most people. I saw that you were a bit stunned, and I thought it but fair that you should have time to calm down." "You were kind to me. You acted as a good man and a gentleman. Then I scarcely cared what happened to my father; now I do." "Ay, ay, young lady, natural feelings must return. I am very sorry for you."