A Silver Brand — page 112: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

104 , A SILVEK BRAND. “T do not say it, nay. It lies in other hands for settlement, my lad. Win there, and I give my benediction.” The young man’s face brightened out of its per- plexity. “I thank you, sir. I see now how mag- nanimous and noble your heart is.” “ And you are not sorry for your discovery?” “No. Iwas stunned, I think, by the shock of the surprise. But I see now how much joy it may bring. Best of all, it is to have this indisputable refutation of the foul calumny that has darkened my father’s reputation. How Roderich will rejoice! He would always have it that a heavy nightmare hung about our father’s spirits, sadly suggestive of cult. It was almost a monomania with him, the dread that something would prove the truth of the: black accusation. Thank Heaven that is impossible now !” Nat smiled sadly. , “Fate is kinder than our own passions. Stephano, learn to curb the fiery Baer temper while you are voung. Idonotsay but there will be many bitter and troublesome memories to mar our happiness should Valentin and myself ever take each other again by the hand. But Time works marvels, and it may be we shall only rejoice in our hard discipline since we thereby have learned to conquer evil passions.” “ All this makes wondrous change in my ideas and confuses all my plans,” murmured Stephano, medi- tatively. “I confess I do not see what advantage can come of an inactive residence here.” “Your part, just now, has nothing to do with see- ing, only to obey implicitly,” returned Nat, smiling faintly. “As I said before, you will be likely to trouble and embarrass matters if you interfere, A single false move, even now, may lose all the ad- vantage I have gained. I cannot afford to risk any rashness. And this Foss family are devoted blindly to the enemy. I see plainly that there is no possible chance of winning them over, and cannot help re- specting their enthusiasm and _ self-abnegation, although I know it is given toa false.and wicked -COMICHDOOKS com