My wife, as before, attempted to ease her heart by reproaches.

'Never,' cried she, 'shall that vilest stain of our family again darken those harmless doors.

I will never call her daughter more.

No, let the strumpet live with her vile seducer: she may bring us to shame but she shall never more deceive us.' 'Wife,' said I, 'do not talk thus hardly: my detestation of her guilt is as great as yours; but ever shall this house and this heart be open to a poor returning repentant sinner.

The sooner she returns from her transgression, the more welcome shall she be to me.