Speak to me freely, if you love your daughter Helene--your daughter and my love." He sat up now, and motioned me to come nearer.

There was a dark, fierce, unworldly light in his eyes.

I set a pillow to his back, and went and kneeled by the bed as I used to do at good-night time when I said my Paternoster.
Then for the first time he knew me.
"Say your prayers, child!" he commanded, in his old voice.
So, though with the stress of wars and other things I had mostly forgotten, yet I said not only that, but the little Prayer of Childhood he had taught me.

And then I kissed him as I used to do when I bade him good-night.
"Yes," he said, softly, "it is true, after all.

You are mine own only son.