My father returned to his seat. He was much agitated too, though doing
all that was possible to conceal it. My inopportune arrival was evidently
a great and unlooked-for vexation to him. He gave me the only look of
passionate displeasure I have ever had from him, as he sat down again;
but he said nothing more.

"You must understand," he said, addressing the woman, "that I have said
my last words on this subject. I don't choose to enter into it again in
the presence of my son, who is not well enough to be made a party to any
discussion. I am sorry that you should have had so much trouble in vain,
but you were warned beforehand, and you have only yourself to blame. I
acknowledge no claim, and nothing you can say will change my resolution.
I must beg you to go away. All this is very painful and quite useless. I
acknowledge no claim."

"Oh, sir," she cried, her eyes beginning once more to flow, her speech
interrupted by little sobs. "Maybe I did wrong to speak of a claim. I'm
not educated to argue with a gentleman. Maybe we have no claim. But if
it's not by right, oh, Mr. Canning, won't you let your heart be touched
by pity? She don't know what I'm saying, poor dear. She's not one to beg
and pray for herself, as I'm doing for her. Oh, sir, she's so young!
She's so lone in this world,--not a friend to stand by her, nor a house
to take her in! You are the nearest to her of any one that's left in this
world. She hasn't a relation,--not one so near as you,--oh!" she cried,
with a sudden thought, turning quickly round upon me, "this gentleman's
your son! Now I think of it, it's not your relation she is, but his,
through his mother! That's nearer, nearer! Oh, sir! you're young; your
heart should be more tender. Here is my young lady that has no one in the
world to look to her. Your own flesh and blood; your mother's