Page:What Will He Do With It? - Routledge - Volume 2.djvu/311

 to discourage or rebuke farther allusion to ancient wrong. Lionel, in quick accents, but more connected meaning, went on--

"I have just come from Mr. Darrell, where I and Colonel Morley (here Lionel's countenance was darkly troubled) have been staying some days. Two days ago I received this letter from George Morley, forwarded to me from London. It says--let me read it: 'You will rejoice to learn that our dear Waife'--pardon that name."

"I have no other--go on."

"'Is once more with his grandchild.'" (Here Lionel sighed heavily--sigh like Sophy's.) "'You will rejoice yet more to learn that it has pleased Heaven to allow me and another witness, who, some years ago, had been misled into condemning Waife, to be enabled to bear incontrovertible testimony to the complete innocence of my beloved friend; nay, more--I say to you most solemnly, that in all which appeared to attest guilt, there has been a virtue, which, if known to Mr. Darrell, would make him bow in reverence to that old man. Tell Mr. Darrell so from me; and add, that in saying it, I express my conviction of his own admiring sympathy--for all that is noble and heroic.'"

"Too much-this is too, too much," stammered out Waife, restlessly turning away; "but--but, you are folding up the letter. That is all?--he does not say more? he does not mention any one else?--eh?--eh?"

"No, sir; that is all."

"Thank Heaven! He is an honourable man! Yet he has said more than he ought--much more than he can prove, or than I--" he broke off, and abruptly asked--"How did Mr. Darrell take these assertions? With an incredulous laugh--eh?--'Why, the old rogue had pleaded guilty!'"

"Sir, Alban Morley was there to speak of the William Losely whom he had known; to explain, from facts which he had collected at the time, of what nature was the evidence not brought forward. The motive that induced you to plead guilty I had long guessed; it flashed in an instant on Guy Darrell; it was not mere guess with him! You ask me what he said? This: 'Grand nature! George is right! and I do bow my head in reverence!'"

"He said that?--Guy Darrell? On your honour, he said that?"