irresistibly, the hand held out to him. And the scholar, overjoyed, fell
on his breast, embracing him as a son.

"You know," said George, in trembling accents, "that the hand you have
taken will never betray, never desert; but is it--is it really powerless
to raise and to restore you to your place?"

"Powerless amongst your kind for that indeed," answered Waife, in accents
still more tremulous. "All the kings of the earth are not strong enough
to raise a name that has once been trampled into the mire. Learn that it
is not only impossible for me to clear myself, but that it is equally
impossible for me to confide to mortal being a single plea in defence if
I am innocent, in extenuation if I am guilty. And saying this, and
entreating you to hold it more merciful to condemn than to question me,
--for question is torture,--I cannot reject your pity; but it would be
mockery to offer me respect!"

"What! not respect the fortitude which calumny cannot crush? Would that
fortitude be possible if you were not calm in the knowledge that no false
witnesses can mislead the Eternal Judge? Respect you! yes,--because I
have seen you happy in despite of men, and therefore I know that the
cloud around you is not the frown of Heaven."

"Oh," cried Waife, the tears rolling down his cheeks, "and not an hour
ago I was jesting at human friendship, venting graceless spleen on my
fellow-men! And now--now--ah, sir! Providence is so kind to me! And,"
said he, brushing away his tears, as the old arch smile began to play
round the corner of his mouth, "and kind to me in the very quarter in
which unkindness had so sorely smitten me. True, you directed towards me
the woman who took from me my grandchild, who destroyed me in the esteem