Sad as the position of the
two sisters now is, we must look at it on its best side; we must not
lose hope."
"Hope?" repeated Miss Garth. "Hope from Michael Vanstone!"
"Yes; hope from the influence on him of time, if not from the influence
of mercy. As I have already told you, he is now an old man; he cannot,
in the course of nature, expect to live much longer. If he looks back to
the period when he and his brother were first at variance, he must look
back through thirty years. Surely, these are softening influences
which must affect any man? Surely, his own knowledge of the shocking
circumstances under which he has become possessed of this money will
plead with him, if nothing else does?"
"I will try to think as you do, Mr. Pendril--I will try to hope for the
best. Shall we be left long in suspense before the decision reaches us?"
"I trust not. The only delay on my side will be caused by the necessity
of discovering the place of Michael Vanstone's residence on the
Continent. I think I have the means of meeting this difficulty
successfully; and the moment I reach London, those means shall be
tried."
He took up his hat; and then returned to the table on which the father's
last letter, and the father's useless will, were lying side by side.
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