_Dan._ (_in a broken voice_). Why, Dorothy--these things are but vanities. Oh, Dorothy, my darling, be content with thy lot! _Dor._ Nay, father--but indeed I envy not Sir Jasper. I grieve to think how solitary the poor gentleman must be, all alone in so vast a house, with neither wife nor child to solace him in his old age! _Dan._ (_anxiously_). Did he tell thee of his child? _Dor._ Ay, speaking gravely, yet kindly, as of a sorrow still unhealed. And when he told me how he lost the maiden many years ago, and how he has vainly sought her ever since, my heart yearned to him, for the tears glistened in his eyes. Methinks a daughter must needs love such a father, for he is a noble gentleman. _Dan._ Nay, thou knowest him not. He did not deal rightly by the girl. He left her to perish--to perish, Dolly--that he might save his own life. He is rightly served. The sins of his youth are visited upon him in his old age. It is just, it is just. _I_ would not have quitted _thee_, my child, my child! _Dor._ In truth, I am very sure of that. I cannot think that there is in this world peril or necessity so dire as to part us twain! _Dan._ Thou’lt never leave me, Dolly? _Dor._ Never! _Dan._ Come what may? _Dor._ Come what may! (_He kisses her._) [_Exit DOROTHY._ _Dan._ (_looking after her_). Oh, it’s hard, arter so long; for the heart o’ my body is not so dear to me as yon poor little girl! Oh, Dolly, it canna be right,--it canna be right. Thou’st taken to me as to a father. If thou wast my own flesh and blood thou couldst not be dearer to me, nor I to thee. And now--arter so long.--It canna be right. _Enter GEOFFREY._ _Geof._ Why, Master Druce, thou hast tears in thine eyes! _Dan._ Ay, lad, and cause for ’em in my heart! Geoffrey, there’s a heavy blow come on me. I--I told thee of the cruel thankless father who left my girl wi’ me--my Dorothy--_thy_ Dorothy---- _Geof._ Yes! _Dan._ I--I have seen him, Geoffrey! Here--here, I have seen him! Him as thou’rt here to meet,--that’s Dolly’s father! _Geof._ Sir Jasper! Impossible! _Dan._ Yes, I tell thee, ’twas him. He didn’t know me--_but I knowed him!_ Geoffrey--my only hope lies wi’ thee. Thou must wed Dorothy--ay, at once too. He cannot take her from _thee_,--and we will all go hence to a place of safety--to-morrow--to-morrow! _Geof._ (_after a pause_). Master Druce, thou art a tenderhearted, right-doing man,--and it’s not for a boy like me to shape thy course. _Dan._ Why, what dost thou mean? _Geof._ If this man, Sir Jasper Combe, is indeed her father---- _Dan._ Her father? He cast her from him! He left her to perish! Her father? Heaven had given him the richest treasure that Heaven can give, and he flung it into my lap as he’d fling a coin to a beggar! The trust that he forsook I took up. The child that he plucked from his bosom I took to mine. There let it bide, Geoffrey Wynyard, there let it bide!