"
In a few moments she stands before him, with her hand clasped in
Ernest's.
"Here I am again, Mr. Lyle, as in years gone by, pleading for your
blessing on our love. May I have her now, after all these years of
waiting?"
"Ernest Moreton, I am profoundly thankful to Heaven for sparing me to
see this day. Welcome back to your home and old friends, and welcome
to the hand of my daughter. Take her; she has been a loving, patient,
dutiful child. She has brightened and cheered my path for a long,
weary time, and now I resign this blessing to you, and beg your
forgiveness for these long years, lost to both, which might have been
passed happily together."
"Not resign, but only share with me, this blessing; she shall never
leave you, sir," replied Ernest.
"Father, do not speak of years lost; they have not been. Ernest would
not have gone away, and devoted himself to study, if we had been
united then; just think then what his adopted State would have lost!
and I have been cheering you--think what you would have lost without
your little Constance! Nay, there is nothing lost; all is gain, and
simply by keeping God's command, 'Honor thy father and thy mother.'"
"Let me come in to rejoice with you all, and make my speech,"
exclaimed the noble Gerald, grasping the hand of each.
Pages:
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206