"How much do you think you deserve at my hands?" asked Mr. Dinsmore somewhat severely, for the request seemed to him a bold one under the circ.u.mstances.
"I leave that to your generosity, sir," was the cool reply.
"Which you expect to be great enough to allow you to escape the justice that should have been meted out to you years ago?"
"I"ve never harmed a hair of your head nor of any one belonging to you; though I owe a heavy scare to both you and Travilla," was the insolent rejoinder.
"No, your imprisonment was the due reward of your lawless and cruel deeds."
"Whatever I may have done," retorted the wretch with savage ferocity, "it was nothing compared to the injury inflicted upon me. I suffered inconceivable torture. Look at me and judge if I do not speak the truth; look at these fearful scars, these almost blinded eyes." He finished with a torrent of oaths and curses directed at Travilla.
"Stop!" said Mr. Dinsmore authoritatively, "you are speaking against the sainted dead, and he entirely innocent of the cause of your sufferings."
"What! is he dead? When? where? how did he die?"
"At Ion, scarce two months ago, calmly, peacefully, trusting with undoubting faith in the atoning blood of Christ."
Boyd stood leaning against the outer wall of the restaurant; he was evidently very weak; he seemed awe-struck, and did not speak again for a moment; then, "I did not know it," he said in a subdued tone. "So he"s gone! And his wife? She was very fond of him."
"She was indeed. She is in this city with her family, on her way to Viamede."
"I"m sorry for her; never had any grudge against her," said Boyd. "And my aunt?"
"Is still living and in good health, but beginning to feel the infirmities of age. She has long mourned for you as worse than dead. You look ill able to stand; let me help you to your home."
"Home? I have none." There was a mixture of scorn and despair in the tones.
"But you must have some lodging place?"
"Yes, sometimes it is a door-step, sometimes a pile of rotten straw in a filthy cellar. On second thoughts, Dinsmore, I rather wish you"d have me arrested and lodged in jail," he added with a bitter laugh. "I"d at least have a bed to lay my weary limbs upon, and something to eat. And before the trial was over I"d be beyond the reach of any heavier penalty."
"Of human law," added Mr. Dinsmore significantly, "but do not forget that after death comes the judgment. No, Boyd; I feel no resentment toward you, and since your future career in this world is evidently very short, I do not feel called upon to deliver you up to human justice.
Also, for your aunt"s sake especially, I am inclined to give you some a.s.sistance. I will therefore give you the means to pay for a decent lodging to-night, and to-morrow will see what further can be done, if you will let me know where to find you."
Time and place were fixed upon, money enough to pay for bed and breakfast was given to Boyd, and they parted company, Mr. Dinsmore hastening on his way to his hotel--the very best the city afforded--with a light, free step, while Boyd slowly dragged himself to a very humble lodging in a narrow, dirty street near at hand.
Mr. Dinsmore found his whole party gathered in their private parlor and anxiously awaiting his coming. As he entered there was a general exclamation of relief and pleasure on the part of the ladies and his father, and a joyous shout from Rosie and Walter as each hastened to claim a seat upon his knee.
"My dears, grandpa is tired," said their mother.
"Not too tired for this," he said, caressing them with all a father"s fondness.
"Are you not late, my dear?" asked his wife; "we were beginning to feel a trifle anxious about you."
"Rather, I believe. I will explain the cause at another time," he said pleasantly.
Tea was brought in, family worship followed the meal, and shortly after that Elsie retired with her little ones to see them to bed; the others drew round the table, each with book or work, Harold pushing Molly"s chair up near the light; and Mr. Dinsmore, seating himself beside his wife, on a distant sofa, gave her in subdued tones an account of his interview with Boyd.
"Poor wretch!" she sighed, "what can we do for him? It is too dreadful to think of his dying as he has lived."
"It is, indeed! We will consult with Elsie as to what can be done."
"The very mention of his name must be a pain to her; can she not be spared it?"
"I will consider that question. You know I would not willingly pain her," he said, with a tenderly affectionate glance at his daughter as she re-entered the room; then rising he paced the floor, as was his habit when engaged in deep or perplexing thought.
Elsie watched him a little anxiously, but without remark until all the others had retired, leaving her alone with him and Rose.
Then going to him where he sat, in a large easy chair beside the table, looking over the evening paper, "Papa," she said, laying her hand affectionately on his arm, "I fear you are finding my affairs troublesome."
"No, my dear child, not at all," he answered, throwing down the paper and drawing her to a seat upon his knee.
"It seems quite like old, old times," she said with a smile, gazing lovingly into his eyes, then stealing an arm about his neck and laying her cheek to his.
"Yes," he said, fondling her; "why should I not have you here as I used to twenty odd years ago? You are no larger or heavier nor I a whit less strong and vigorous than we were then."
"How thankful I am for that last," she returned, softly stroking his face, "and it is very pleasant occasionally to imagine myself your own little girl again. But something is giving you anxiety, my dear father.
Is it anything in which I can a.s.sist you?"
"Yes; but I fear I can hardly explain without calling up painful memories."
He felt her start slightly, and a low-breathed sigh met his ear.
"Still say on, dear papa," she whispered tremulously.
"Can you bear it?" he asked; "not for me, but for another--an enemy."
"Yes, the Lord will give me strength. Of whom do you speak?"
"George Boyd."
"The would-be murderer of my husband!" she exclaimed, with a start and shiver, while the tears coursed freely down her cheeks. "I thought him long since dead."
"No, I met him this evening, but so worn and altered by disease and famine, so seamed and scarred by Aunt Dicey"s scalding shower, that I recognized him only by the mutilated right hand. Elsie, the man is reduced to the lowest depths of poverty and shame, and evidently very near his end."
"Papa, what would you have me do?" she asked in quivering tones.
"Could you bear to have him removed to Viamede? could you endure his presence there for the few weeks he has yet to live?"
She seemed to have a short struggle with herself, then the answer came in low, agitated tones.
"Yes, if neither my children nor I need look upon him or hold any communication with him."
"That would not be at all necessary," her father answered, holding her close to his heart. "And indeed I could not consent to it myself. He is a loathsome creature both morally and physically; yet for his aunt"s sake, and still more for His sake who bids us "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you," I shall gladly do all in my power for the wretched prodigal. And who can tell but there may yet be mercy in store for him? G.o.d"s mercy and power are infinite, and He has "no pleasure in the death of him that dieth," but would rather that he turn from his evil way and live."
There was a little pause, then Elsie asked if her father had arranged any plans in regard to Boyd"s removal.
"Yes," he said, "subject of course to your approval. I have thought it would be well to send him on at once and let him be settled in his quarters before the arrival of our own party. You must decide what room he is to occupy."