"
"I shall not desist, Judge Ostrander."
"You are going to pursue this Jack-o'-Lanthorn?"
"I am determined to. If you deny me aid and advice, I shall seek
another counsellor. John's name must be vindicated."
"Obstinacy, madam."
"No; conscience."
He gave her a look, turned and glanced down at the child piling
stone on stone and whimpering just a little when they fell.
"Watch that baby for a while," he remarked, "and you will learn
the lesson of most human endeavour. Madam, I have a proposition to
make you. You cannot wish to remain at the inn, nor can you be
long happy separated from your daughter. I have lost Bela. I do
not know how, nor would I be willing, to replace him by another
servant. I need a housekeeper; some one devoted to my interests
and who will not ask me to change my habits too materially. Will
you accept the position, if I add as an inducement my desire to
have Reuther also as an inmate of my home? This does not mean that
I countenance or in any way anticipate her union with my son. I do
not; but any other advantages she may desire, she shall have. I
will not be strict with her."
"Judge Ostrander!"
Deborah Scoville was never more taken aback in her life. The
recluse opening his doors to two women! The man of mystery
flinging aside the reticences of years to harbour an innocence
which he refused to let weigh against the claims of a son he has
seen fit to banish from his heart and home!
"You may take time to think of it," he continued, as he watched
the confused emotions change from moment to moment the character
of her mobile features.
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