Ah, if the lad had always been with him--who can tell ?--he might have been different! Whether so or not, it was the lad's right to take his place his mother gave him, let be whatever his father was.

'Twas a cruel thing done to him.

His own was his own, to run his race as God A'mighty had laid the hurdles, not as Luke Claridge willed.

I'm sick of seeing yonder fellow in Our Man's place, he that will not give him help, when he may; he that would see him die like a dog in the desert, brother or no brother--" "He does not know--Lord Eglington does not know the truth ?" interposed the old man in a heavy whisper.

"He does not know, but, if he knew, would it matter to him! So much the more would he see Our Man die yonder in the sands.