THE turning-point with Ellis had nearly come.

It required, comparatively, little beyond the weight of a feather to give preponderance to the scale of evil influences.

Cara's reception, as shown in the last chapter, was no worse than he had anticipated, yet it hurt him none the less; for unkind words from her were always felt as blows, and coldness as the pressure upon his heart of an icy hand.

In the love of his children, who were very fond of him, he sought a kind of refuge.

Henry, his oldest child, was a bright, intelligent boy between eight and nine years of age; and Kate, between six and seven, was a sweet-tempered, affectionate little girl, who scarcely ever left her father's side when he was in the house.
At the tea-table, only the children's voices were heard: they seemed not to perceive the coldness that separated their parents.