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angels turn away with very shame and sorrow. Let thpra not
write it down -that tlui father's heart is i!
that his children ore less dear to him than )m
ness, and his darkness, and his pride; leave him to the
thoughts that are gnawing away the heart upon which they
feed ; leave him, even to himself, and let them rather record,
with pens of gold, how the brother and sister, locked in each
other's arms, wept over their ruined hopes as if their hearts
would break, and wept for the unbending harshness of an un-
forgiving heart, Let them rather record in brightest letters
the words frequently murmured during that bitter night,
"Edwin, my own darling, I, at least, will never forsake you
never love you less, my poor, poor boy." And now that the
evening bells are ringing through the air, and men are taking
advantage of the clearing weather to hurry to the house of
God now, while many a hearth is bright and gay, and love is
speaking in many an eye, let the cold, stern man think of the
"
Merry Christmas" that is held around his hearth. Let him
gloat over the work of his hands, and exult in the strength of
his will ; but, for God's sake, lot him forget that it is the Merry
Christmas time. Above all, let him forget the solemn
"
Glory bo to God in the
words he heard not many hours ago :
highest, and on earth peace to men of good will."
CHAPTER
A VICTOKY AND A NOTABLE ONE,
THE TWO VICTORIES. 15
IF IT BE WORTH THE PBICE.
After the death-blow to his hopes which he had now received,
we may easily imagine that poor Edwin passed a wretched and
sleepless night. He arose next morning weak and languid, and
had scarcely finished dressing when he received a me sage sum-
moning him to his father's private room. He obeyed at once,
and entered the room comparatively calm, for he felt that the
worst was passed, that he had nothing to hope, and that it only
remained for him to support anything that was to follow with
as much resignation as possible.
With the sweet names of Jesus and Mary upon his lips, he
turned the latch and entered the room. His father was stand-
ing behind Ms desk, very pale, but to all appearance perfectly
calm. He gave no sign of recognition as his sou entered the
room, but stood motionless and rigid as a statue. He did not
even look at him, but, with his eyes fixed upon the opposite
wall, in a cold, harsh voice, as if he were transacting a piece of
business of the very least importance, and one which was scarcely
worthy of even so much attention, he merely said, "I have
sent for you, sir, to learn from your own lips whether you are
determined to persevere in the absurd and outrageous line of
henceforward you are a stranger here."
And so they parted, father and son. Edwin would have taken
his father's hand, but the proud man turned haughtily and
sternly away, and so, without another word, without another
look, with all the love of so many years cast awayand trampled
upon by the demon of pride and sectarian intolerance, lie allowed
the door to close upon his son, and listened to the retreating
footsteps which told him too plainly, alas ! that he was
alone, and that he had needlessly cast away from him the priceless
jewel of a young heart's love and tenderness
And yet he had scarcely expected that it would have come to
this. He had persuaded himsdi thuf, iiv speaking thr.t;
and harshly to his son, lie would have fmccecdrd in breaking
down Edwin nation to < ie Catholic
Bon wouldtakehim athmword.andgiveupeverythirigrathi r
that which he felt himself bound to embrace ; and for
pride and never-unbending will. Lot thorn not record the cold
and haughty message which the menial enters to deliver ; but
let them leave him in the room which he will not forsake. Let
them leave him, even on a day like this ment he felt stunned as the door closed upon Edwin's retmit-
leave him in hi:
u-e. He would have ; given worlds to recall those
" 1 1 1 neeforward you are a stranger here ;" but his pride
not submit, find he arm Id not doit. Evennowhe couldscarcely
believe that they had parted he ; could scarcely b<
Edwin would leave him, and he sat listening most anxiously to
every step that he heard in the passage outside, thinking
be that of Edwin, who was coming to announce his subm
heart sicken
to his father's will ; and, oh ! how his proud
the step passed on and he found himself still alone :
it to
thinking of his boy and of all that was past. One, two, tin eo
hours, and now he knew that Edwin would not submit, and he
rang his bell. He sat down, with a strange calmness upon his
face, to his desk, and slowly and methodically opening it, took
thence a note for a 100, and put in an envelope. He was
about to direct it, when a sudden thought seemed to strike him,
and he threw the pen hastily away, and left the envelope with-
out any address. When the servant entered, although he
peered curiously into his master's face to discover how the
proud man bore his trouble, he could find no mark of discomposure
; all was cold, and stern, and proud, and his master's
voice was firm and steady as usual, as he handed the envelope
to him.
"Johnson," he said, "take this to
"
My son, he wns
going to odd, but he suddenly stopped as if something were
choking him.
" Take this to Mr. Edwin Stanhope, and in-
quire from him when it will suit his convenience to depart
hence, in order that you may procure a conveyance for him ;
and, Johnson," he continued, as the servant was leaving the
room, "you will remember that Mr. Edwin Stanhope is henceforward
a stranger here ; and, should he call, you will nut admit
him without my express orders and permission."
" "
Henceforward a stranger here ! He was glad when the
servant left the room, with a low bow, for he had marked the
pitying look of the man's face; and with all his pride and
haughty self-will he felt himself humbled and abased he felt
;
himself degraded even to the feet of his own menial, and ho
was glad to be alone.
We shall not attempt to describe the parting between the
brother and the sister. There are things too holy and too
painful to be described by any human pen, much less by a
pen so weak and feeble as ours. We will rather drav.
over the sorrowful scene, and leave to angel hands to record
the parting vows of faithfulness which they uttered, clinging
round each other's necks leave to angel hands to record the
love and watchful care with which she packed his books and
conduct which you have thought fit to embrace ?"
" Dear papa, if-"
"I desire no explanation, sir I ; merely wish an answer to my
question. "
"
Papa, I am determined, because no other course is opsn to
me."
"
Then, sir, tie sooner you seek another home the better, for
all his little treasures and promised so faithfully to write to
him as often as she could. Above all, we will draw a veil over
that parting moment, when their young lips were pres:wildly
in long and pure embrace: whilst their weepin,
spoke all that which their sorrow stricken tongues rciused to
say.
And now, if bluff old Mr. Brown has condescended to follow
our little story so far, we have no doubt that the worthy old
gentleman is in a state of great satisfaction, and that he is loud
in his commendations of the firm and determined manner in
which Mr. Stanhope has acted iu regard to his rebellious and
undutiful sou.
It cannot be denied that Mr. Stanhope has gained a great, a
notable victory. Kather than sacrifice one iota of his pride
and haughty will, he has sacrificed and ruthlessly cat;;
from him the dearest object he possessed iu the world ; and for
what? That he might not appear to have given way in this
couilict with his child that men, might not be able to say that
he had allowed his own son to thwart him, even in a
salvation was at stake. A ! great victory, surely
! His ov '. l:her ami
Me victory
iu. his only b. .:-.;, out upu.
a