Page:Tom Beauling (1901).pdf/219

 Beauling took up the photograph.

"Before I give you this." he said, "I want to thank you for all you have done for me. And if you are my father," he said, "I'm going to tell you that one old man was made happy by your sin. He told me to tell my father that, if I ever found my father. And if you are my father," he said, "it will take away all the chance of happiness that I have in this world, but, for the sake of an old man who loved me and whom I loved, I shall forgive you."

Dunbar took the photograph, and, after a moment's hesitation, turned it over and looked at it. The noise which came from his lips was more like the tittering of a school-girl than anything else.

"It isn't I," he said.

she was passing the little drawing-room up-stairs, on her way to dinner, Mrs. Dunbar stopped and parted the portieres, with the intention of going in. She changed her mind, drew the portieres together gently, and went down-stairs, smiling.