The Argosy — page 266: what you’re looking at

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Winifred Power. 247 ‘‘Because he is so unfortunate,” said Winifred: and she poured forth the story of Richard’s wrongs. “JT do not think he would be at all the proper person for my father to employ,” observed Mark when she had finished. ‘Why not? ” “‘A man who has been accused of culpable negligence, to call it by no harsher term —-—” ‘But I tell you he is innocent,” flashed out Winifred. “So you say, Miss Power, and you have possibly good personal grounds for believing it. But the rest of the world would unfor- tunately require proof,” continued Mark, with a touch of indulgent, smiling irony. “Surely it is tea-time,” interrupted Sir John, rising. ‘I shall be glad of acup. Did I hear you say something, Miss Power, about a person capable of making a catalogue of my books ?” he inquired, as they went into the drawing-room. Enchanted at the question, Winifred a second time recounted her tale. ‘Try to persuade her that there are a few unfortunate people in the world who are not worth helping,” said Mark, with a smile, to his father. / But Sir John, on the contrary, looked tender and took Winifred’s hand in his. ‘‘ Your enthusiasm does you honour, my child. Even supposing the young man to be guilty, he should be given a second chance for his own sake. You can write to Mr. Dallas, if you like,” he resumed after a pause of thought: “tell him what the work would be, and ask him to come here. He shall have his board and lodging until it is completed.” * And—and a salary ?” faltered Winifred. She was almost speech- less with joy and gratitude, but a vivid vision of the sorely-pinched Dallas household urged her to the question. “Bless me, no!” exclaimed Sir John, with unusual briskness, ‘‘We have imperative duties towards society, my dear young lady. One of these duties is the observance of discipline towards the erring. Until your friend has reconquered his position, he should be encouraged but not indulged.” Slightly crestfallen but still grateful, the girl expressed her thanks; she felt too exultant to mind even Mark’s answering glance to her mother’s low-toned remark. ‘‘ My dear daughter is almost Quixoti- cally soft-hearted. Sometimes even I venture humbly to remonstrate with her.” ) Later in the evening, when the guests were gone, and Sir John was again alone in his library, he was disturbed by the entrance of Mrs. Hatherley. He looked up at her quickly and not amiably, while she paused beside his chair. Evidently she had something to say, in the saying of which he would not help her. “John,” she began at last, tremulously, “you are kind to so many ; so kind. Have you no compassion for Azm ?” Comiclbooks.c©