CHAPTER XXVI.
THE TRIBUNAL After that day there was not a day but rich presents were showered on me by the Dawsons, which reminded me of the decking of a victim led to the sacrifice.
What did I care about the jewels and furs and laces that my bridegroom brought me?
About his promise of what he should give me when I was his?
Garret Dawson used to eye me with a grim approval: and I heard him say to my grandfather once that he could have had rank and wealth and beauty for his son, and that I would bring him nothing; but that he and Rick knew a unique thing when they saw it and were prepared to pay any price for it.

At which speech my poor grandfather bowed with a look as though he felt it hard to endure.
Mrs.Dawson took me in her kind, old, motherly arms when she came to see me, and said humbly that she could never be grateful enough to me for consenting to marry her son; and what she said afterwards had something significant in it if I had not been too miserable to notice it.
"He'll make you a good husband, dear," she said.

"He's a good boy at heart, although he has been a bit wild.

And, listen, dear, you may have your feelings about the way Dawson made his money and I'm not saying you wouldn't be right.

But, my dear, there's many a thing Dawson did--hard and cruel things, you understand, dear--that Rick never knew of.