woman; women have a common interest in forgiving all faults that arise
from the source of their power over us men,--I mean love. Go!"

"No, I cannot go; you see she would not like to look on my face. And I
cannot repeat what you say so glibly. Besides, somehow or other, as I am
so dependent upon my father,--and he has said as much,--I feel as if it
would be mean in me to make any excuses. I did the thing, and must
suffer for it. But I'm a in--an--no--I 'm not a man here." Frank burst
into tears.

At the sight of those tears, Randal gradually recovered from his strange
aberration into vulgar and low humanity. His habitual contempt for his
kinsman returned; and with contempt came the natural indifference to the
sufferings of the thing to be put to use. It is contempt for the worm
that makes the angler fix it on the hook, and observe with complacency
that the vivacity of its wriggles will attract the bite. If the worm
could but make the angler respect, or even fear it, the barb would find
some other bait. Few anglers would impale an estimable silkworm, and
still fewer the anglers who would finger into service a formidable
hornet.

"Pooh, my--dear Frank," said Randal; "I have given you my advice; you
reject it. Well, what then will you do?"

"I shall ask for leave of absence, and run away some where," said Frank,
drying his tears. "I can't face London; I can't mix with others. I want
to be by myself, and wrestle with all that I feel here--in my heart.
Then I shall write to my mother, say the plain truth, and leave her to
judge as kindly of me as she can."