miss--ma'am. Who is this lady? When it comes to forgiveness, there are
so many of them! Oh, I remember now--your ladyship will forgive me--'tis
all down in black and white what I've done-Belles has it. You see this
hand--I can write with this hand--this is not paralysed.

"This is not the hand I tried to raise against her. But /basta, basta!/
where was I? My poor head! I know what it is to have a head now!--ache,
ache!--boom, boom-weight, weight-heavy as a church bell-hollow as a
church bell--noisy as a church bell! Brandy! give me brandy, you
witch!--I mean Bella, good Bella, give me brandy!"

"Not yet, Jasper dear. You are to have it every third hour; it is not
time yet, dearest; you must attend to the doctor, and try to get well and
recover your strength. You remember I told you how kind Lady Montfort
had been to your father, and you wished to see and thank her."

"My father--my poor, poor father! You've been kind to him! Bless you,
bless you! And you will see him? I want his pardon before I die. Don't
forget, and--and--"

"Poor Sophy!" said Mrs. Crane.

"Ah yes! But she's well off now, you tell me. I can't think I have
injured her. And really girls and women are intended to be a little
useful to one. /Basta, basta/."'

"Mr. Darrell--"

"Yes, yes, yes! I forgive him, or he forgives me; settle it as you like.
But my father's pardon, Lady Montfort, you will get me that!"