"He is so weak yet, Mr Vine," she said, taking and separating their hands. "Madelaine--my child!" "Mr Vine may come again in the evening for a little while," said Madelaine, smiling, as she bent down and kissed her father's brow. "So stern and tyrannical," protested Van Heldre. "Only to make you well, father," replied Madelaine, smiling: and she led their old friend from the room. "He spoke as if he wanted my forgiveness," said Vine as he walked slowly back, noting as they went the kindly deference paid to them by those they met. "Mr Van Heldre, father?" said Louise gently. "Did I speak aloud, my child?" "Yes, dear." "Ah, these thoughts are too keen, and will not be crushed down. Yes, child, yes. My forgiveness, when it is I who should plead, for all the horrors of the past, plead for his forgiveness, Louise. He must have suffered terribly to be brought down to this." Louise looked wistfully in her father's face, whose sunken cheeks and hollow eyes told of mental suffering greater far than that which their friend had been called upon to bear. "Will time heal all this agony and pain?" she asked herself; and it was with a sigh of relief that she reached the gate, and her father went straight to his chair, to sit down and stare straight before him at the sunlit grate, as if seeing in the burning glow scene after scene of the past, till he started excitedly, for there was a ring at the gate-bell. Louise rose to lay her hand upon his shoulder. "Only some visitors, or a letter," she said tenderly. "I thought--I thought it might be news," he said wearily. "But no, no, no. There can be no news now." "Mr Leslie, miss," said Liza from the door. "To see me, Liza? Say that--" "No, sir. In the drawing-room, sir. 'Tis to see Miss Louise, if she will give him an interview, he said." Louise looked wildly at her father. "Must I see him, father?" she said, with her face now ghastly pale. He did not answer for some moments, and then slowly said the one word-- "Yes." She bent down and kissed him, and then summoning up all her courage, slowly left the room. Volume 2, Chapter XXI. DUNCAN LESLIE SPEAKS OUT. Duncan Leslie was standing at a table on which was a photograph of Louise, as she entered the room silently; and as, after a long contemplation of the counterfeit, he drew a long breath, and looked up to see the object of his thoughts standing just inside the doorway, too much agitated to give notice of her presence, he coloured like a boy caught in some act of which he was ashamed. "Miss Vine," he cried, advancing quickly with extended hands. Louise did not speak, but slowly raised one hand for him to take, and suffered him to lead her to a chair. He remained standing before her as the looked up at him in a wild, frightened manner, as if imploring him not to speak, and for a few moments silence reigned.