The next morning he started on his long journey, his father accompanying him as far as New York, from which place he was to sail. Robert wept at parting with his only parent, and felt almost desolate to thus sunder every tie and go a stranger to a strange land. He had always loved and respected his father in spite of his cold, stern manner; still he would not beg to be allowed to remain at home, for he was fully determined to improve every advantage of travel and study, and thus fit himself to be a useful and happy man. So when Mr. Ellerton coldly shook his hand at parting, he could not realize the agony that whitened his boy’s proud face, and hardened his already stern voice; nor could he know how that pent-up anguish burst forth as the vessel bore him from his father’s lingering eyes, from which the tears rolled fast and unheeded, as he turned with aching heart to go back to his lonely home. CHAPTER VI. “I AM NO BEGGAR.” Squire Moulton was walking on the white pebbly margin of his beautiful miniature lake. His head was bowed upon his narrow and sunken chest, his hands were clasped with rigid firmness at his back, while his long grizzly hair hung in neglected masses around his stooping shoulders. His face, always ugly, looked yellower and uglier still as the dim light of a cloudy day—rendered yet more dismal by the thick branches of the overhanging trees—fell around him. He looked like some restless evil spirit haunting that lovely spot, and lying in wait for his unsuspecting prey, rather than the master and the owner of so much beauty. He was pacing back and forth in deep and evidently unpleasant meditation, judging of his lowering brow and the mutterings constantly issuing from his thin lips. He doubtless considered himself entirely alone. But he could not see the pair of eyes, bright and black, and evil as his own, that glared fiercely upon him from within a closely growing circle of arbor vitæ. For an hour his restless pacings and mutterings had continued, and for an hour these fierce eyes had blazed upon him, at first with anger and hatred, then as time went on, with uneasiness. Evidently whoever was within that verdant circle was becoming impatient with the proprietor’s lengthened promenade; for there was a slight rustle as if some one was trying to change his or her position. Unlucky moment! For losing its balance, a figure came crushing against the branches with a force that could not fail to disturb and attract the attention of the master of Moulton Hall. With a start of surprise, and a quick glance of his fiery eyes toward the place, he called out rudely: “Who’s there? and what do you want?” There was no reply, only a further crouching among the foliage. With hasty steps the squire reached the arbor, parted the branches at the entrance, and gazed within. A woman in soiled and ragged garments slowly turned her face, scornful and defiant, full upon him!