"But when they thought you were dead--oh, horrible. It was infamous!" "Dora, Dora, you promised to be patient." "Does your father know? He does, of course! A clergyman!" "Leave him out of it. Poor old dad--it's quite broken him up. Think of it, Dora, the wife of the rector of St. Botolph's parish to go to jail. That's what it would mean. The rector himself disgraced, and his children stigmatized forever. An erring son is a common thing; and an erring brother doesn't necessarily besmirch a sister's honor. Can't you see, Dora, that it's hard enough for them to bear without your casting your stone as well?" "Oh, Dick, I can't understand it. Has she no mother feeling? How could a woman do such a thing? Her own son! To take advantage of his death to defile his memory. Oh, if I had known, I--I would have--" "Hush, hush, Dora! If you knew what my mother has suffered, and if you could look into my father's stricken heart, you'd be willing to overlook a great deal. When I get out of the country, I'm going to make a fresh start. Ormsby has set spies around the house like flies, and, as you've thrown him over now, he'll be doubly venomous. I only wanted to set myself right in your eyes, and absolve you from all pledges." "But I don't want to be absolved," sobbed Dora, dropping on her knees again, and seeking his breast. "Oh, Dick, Dick, you are braver than they know. Was it not easier to face the firing party than to endure the ignominy of this unmerited disgrace?" "There's no help for it. I must go through with it. Don't shake my courage. A man must stick up for his mother." "Oh, Dick, there must be some other way." "There is no other--unless--unless my grandfather consents to acknowledge those checks, and declares that the alterations were made with his knowledge. But that he will not do--because he knows who did it--and he is merciless. I don't care a snap of my finger for the world. You are my world, Dora. If you approve, then I am game. I shall be all right in a few days, and then--then I'll go and do my bit of time, and see the inside of Sing-Sing. It'll be amusing. There's a cab. That's mother come home." "Oh, I can't face her!" cried Dora, with hardening mouth. "Go away without seeing her, darling. Promise you won't reveal what I've told you." "I can't promise. It's horrible!" "You must--you must, little girl." And in the end, much against her will, she was persuaded to keep silence. CHAPTER XXV TRACKED