“My lord! My dear father--!” cried the baronet, as soon as he could gain the power of speech--for his powers were failing rapidly, “how could you mistake me? Bless my soul! I should as soon have thought of asking you to be kind and merciful to little Cordelia! Oh! no, no: I will tell you what I had to ask, and I pointed out the sum and substance of the dear one’s wealth to show that my request was reasonable--that the cost would not stand in the way of its fulfillment. “My lord--listen: It is my earnest desire that my child shall never be sent away from your immediate care--never from your castle while you find home in it--never away from your daily loving sight--for the purpose of attending any school. She can have tutors here; and she shall be taught whatever she desires to know.” And he then went on to enumerate the more important branches of education that had occurred to him. In the end, said the earl, holding his friend’s hand while he spoke: “My dear William, it shall be as you have said; and, I may add, it would have been so if you had not spoken. Expense! Pshaw! Why bless and save us! I can’t spend the twentieth part of my income in the ordinary way of living. If I spend a portion of it for the good of our little cherub, I shall be happy. However, that is all understood. And now, is there not something more?” “No, I think of nothing, It is growing dark.” “Yes; the sun is near its setting.” “Near its setting? What do you mean? It must have set long ago.” “Certainly not. Open your eyes--there. Do you see where the sunbeams fall upon the wainscot, near the door?” The baronet turned his face in the direction pointed out and shook his head in disappointment. “I can not see it. It is dark--dark. My lord.” “Here, William. What is it?” Thus speaking, the earl moved softly back to the bedside and took the baronet’s thin, cold hand in his own warm grasp. “Have you something more to say?” Chester looked up half vacantly but with an expression of eagerness not to be mistaken. “Yes. Sit down, my lord.” “I am sitting. Do you not see?” “Not plainly; but I can feel your hand.” He paused here, and for a brief space seemed buried in profound thought. At length he turned the poor sightless eyes once more toward his host, and went on, with deep and anxious feeling: “Lord Allerdale, will you tell me what is your plan in regard to Matthew. Is he to live here always with you?” “Would it give you relief if I should answer you in the negative?” “Oh! my lord! Do not think I would seek to drive the boy from his proper home. No! no! no! no! Yet--yet--you will not allow him to--” “Stop! Stop where you are, William, and let me think a little bit.” With this the earl took a turn across the room with his head bowed and his arms folded on his breast. When he came back his countenance had cleared and a brighter look was on his face than had been there for a considerable time.