"Your hand now, dear old friend!" cried George. "You remember I
commanded you once to take mine as man and gentleman--as man and
gentleman, now honour me with yours."

"Is it possible?" faltered Waife, one hand in George's, the other
extended in imploring appeal to Darrell--"is it possible? I vindicated--
I cleared--and yet no felon's dock for Jasper!--the son not criminated by
the father's acquittal! Tell me that! again--again!"

"It is so, believe me. All that rests is to force on that son, if he
have a human heart, the conviction that he will be worse than a parricide
if he will not save himself."

"And he will--he shall. Oh, that I could but get at him!" exclaimed the
preacher.

"And now," said Darrell--"now, George, leave us; for now, upon equal
terms, we two fathers can discuss family differences."




CHAPTER VIII.

SOPHY'S CLAIM EXAMINED AND CANVASSED.

"I take this moment," said Darrell, when left alone with Waife--(ah,
reader, let us keep to that familiar name to the last!)--"I take this
moment," said Darrell, "the first moment in which you can feel thoroughly