When she recovered a
little she told him, yes, she had been very unhappy: that he had always
been a dear good brother to her, and the only one she had; and that it
cut her to the heart not to be at his wedding; it seemed so unkind.
Alfred set her on his knee--she had more soul than body--and kissed her
and comforted her: and, in this happy revival of natural affection, his
heart opened, he was off his guard, and told her all: gave her the
several proofs their father had got the L. 14,000. Jane, arrested by the
skill and logical clearness with which he marshalled the proofs, listened
in silence; and presently a keen shudder ran through her frame, and
reminded him he was setting a daughter against her father.
"There," said he, "I always said I would never tell you, and now I've
done it. Well, at least you will see with what consideration, and
unheard-of leniency, the Dodds for our sake are treating Mr. Richard
Hardie. Just compare their conduct to him with his to them. And which is
most to his advantage? that I should marry Julia, and give Mrs. Dodd the
life interest in my ten thousand pounds, to balance his dishonesty, or
for him to be indicted as a thief? Ned Dodd told us plainly he would have
set the police on him, had any other but his son been the informant"
"Did _he_ say that? Oh, Alfred, this is a miserable world.
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