"I too have been a wanderer, though a voluntary one, from the home of my
father," said she.
"Nay, Delia," said Dalhousie, tenderly; "do not revert to your own
experience. Remember you are not strong enough to bear much excitement."
"I did not intend to speak of my own experience; but the sufferings of
poor Miss Dumont call to my mind the remembrance of similar feelings."
"I presume the company are not desirous of hearing the story of an
elopement," said Dalhousie, with a smile.
"Nor I to relate one. The pure devotion of Miss Dumont to the memory of
her father recalls the affection, the fond indulgence, of my own father.
I have not, as she has, the consciousness of having never wilfully
abused his confidence."
"If you have erred, madam," said Mr. Faxon, "your father still lives,
does he not? Perhaps it is not yet too late to atone for the fault."
"Alas! I know not whether he is living or not. I wrote to him several
times, but never received an answer."
"Who was your father, madam?" said Mr. Faxon, with much sympathy in the
tones of his voice.
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