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him a good thrashing。 From this the thought of Eppy helped to
restrain him； and he contented himself with holding him down till he
yielded。 When at last he lay quiet；
〃Will you promise to walk out if I let you up？〃 said Donal。 〃If you
will not； I will drag you into the street by the legs。〃
〃I will；〃 said Forgue； and getting up； he walked out and away
without a word。
Donal locked the door； forgetting all about the papers； and went
back to Andrew's。 There was Eppy； safe for the moment！ She was busy
in the outer room； and kept her back to him。 With a word or two to
the grandmother； he left them； and went home； revolving all the way
what he ought to do。 Should he tell the earl； or should he not？ Had
he been a man of rectitude； he would not have hesitated a moment；
but knowing he did not care what became of Eppy； so long as his son
did not marry her； he felt under no obligation to carry him the evil
report。 The father might have a right to know； but had he a right to
know from him？
A noble nature finds it almost impossible to deal with questions on
other than the highest grounds： where those grounds are
unrecognized； the relations of responsibility may be difficult
indeed to determine。 All Donal was able to conclude on his way home；
and he did not hurry； was； that； if he were asked any questions； he
would speak out what he knewbe absolutely open。 If that should put
a weapon in the hand of the enemy； a weapon was not the victory。
CHAPTER XLVIII。
PATERNAL REVENGE。
No sooner had he entered the castle； where his return had been
watched for； than Simmons came to him with the message that his
lordship wanted to see him。 Then first Donal remembered that he had
not brought the papers！ Had he not been sent for； he would have gone
back at once to fetch them。 As it was； he must see the earl first。
He found him in a worse condition than usual。 His last drug or
combination of drugs had not agreed with him； or he had taken too
much； with correspondent reaction： he was in a vile temper。 Donal
told him he had been to the house； and had found the papers； but had
not brought themhad； in fact； forgotten them。
〃A pretty fellow you are！〃 cried the earl。 〃What； you left those
papers lying about where any rascal may find them and play the deuce
with them！〃
Donal assured him they were perfectly safe； under the same locks and
keys as before。
〃You are always going about the bush！〃 cried the earl。 〃You never
come to the point！ How the devil was it you locked them up
again？To go prying all over the house； I suppose！〃
Donal told him as much of the story as he would hear。 Almost
immediately he saw whither it tended； he began to abuse him for
meddling with things he had nothing to do with。 What right had he to
interfere with lord Forgue's pleasures！ Things of the sort were to
be regarded as non…existent！ The linen had to be washed； but it was
not done in the great court！ Lord Forgue was a youth of position：
why should he be balked of his fancy！ It might be at the expense of
society！
Donal took advantage of the first pause to ask whether he should not
go back and bring the papers： he would run all the way； he said。
〃No； damn you！〃 answered the earl。 〃Give me the keysall the
keyshouse…keys and all。 I should be a fool myself to trust such a
fool again！〃
As Donal was laying the last key on the table by his lordship's
bedside； Simmons appeared； saying lord Forgue desired to know if his
father would see him。
〃Oh； yes！ send him up！〃 cried the earl in a fury。 〃All the devils in
hell at once！〃
His lordship's rages came up from abysses of misery no man knew but
himself。
〃You go into the next room； Grant；〃 he said； 〃and wait there till I
call you。〃
Donal obeyed； took a book from the table； and tried to read。 He
heard the door to the passage open and close again； and then the
sounds of voices。 By degrees they grew louder； and at length the
earl roared out； so that Donal could not help hearing：
〃I'll be damned soul and body in hell； but I'll put a stop to this！
Why； you son of a snake！ I have but to speak the word； and you
arewell； what。 Yes； I will hold my tongue； but not if he crosses
me！By God！ I have held it too long already！letting you grow up
the damnablest ungrateful dog that ever snuffed carrion！And your
poor father periling his soul for you； by God； you rascal！〃
〃Thank heaven； you cannot take the title from me； my lord！〃 said
Forgue coolly。 〃The rest you are welcome to give to Davie！ It won't
be too much； by all accounts！〃
〃Damn you and your title！ A pretty title； ha； ha； ha！Why； you
infernal fool； you have no more right to the title than the beggarly
kitchen…maid you would marry！ If you but knew yourself； you would
crow in another fashion！ Ha； ha； ha！〃
At this Donal opened the door。
〃I must warn your lordship；〃 he said； 〃that if you speak so loud； I
shall hear every word。〃
〃Hear and be damned to you！That fellow thereyou see him standing
therethe mushroom that he is！ Good God！ how I loved his mother！
and this is the way he serves me！ But there was a Providence in the
whole affair！ Never will I disbelieve in a Providence again！ It all
comes out right； perfectly right！ Small occasion had I to be
breaking heart and conscience over it ever since she left me！ Hang
the pinchbeck rascal！ he's no more Forgue than you are； Grant； and
never will be Morven if he live a hundred years！ He's not a short
straw better than any bastard in the street！ His mother was the
loveliest woman ever breathed！and loved meah； God！ it is
something after all to have been loved soand by such a woman！a
woman； by God！ ready and willing and happy to give up everything for
me！ Everything； do you hear； you damned rascal！ I never married her！
Do you hear； Grant？ I take you to witness； mark my words： we； that
fellow's mother and I； were never marriedby no law； Scotch； or
French； or Dutch； or what you will！ He's a damned bastard； and may
go about his business when he pleases。 Oh； yes！ pray do！ Marry your
scullion when you please！ You are your own masterentlrely your own
master！free as the wind that blows to go where you will and do
what you please！ I wash my hands of you。 You'll do as you
pleasewill you？ Then do； and please me： I desire no better
revenge！ I only tell you once for all； the moment I know for certain
you've married the wench； that moment I publish to the worldthat
is； I acquaint certain gossips with the fact； that the next lord
Morven will have to be hunted for like a truffleha！ ha！ ha！〃
He burst into a fiendish fit of laughter； and fell back on his
pillow； dark with rage and the unutterable fury that made of his
being a volcano。 The two men had been standing dumb before him；
Donal pained for the man on whom this phial of devilish wrath had
been emptied； he white and trembling with dismayan abject
creature； crushed by a cruel parent。 When his father ceased； he
still stood； still said nothing： power was gone from him。 He grew
ghastly； uttered a groan； and wavered。 Donal supported him to a
chair； he dropped into it； and leaned back； with streaming face。 It
was miserable to think that one capable of such emotion concerning
the world's regard； should be so indifferent to what alone can
affect a manthe nature of his actionsso indifferent to the agony
of another as to please himself at all risk to her； although he
believed he loved her； and perhaps did love her better than any one
else in the world。 For Donal did not at all trust him regarding
Eppyless now than ever。 But these thoughts went on in him almost
without his thinking them； his attention was engrossed with the
passionate creatures before him。
The father too seemed to have lost the power of motion； and lay with
his eyes closed； breathing heavily。 But by and by he made what Donal
took for a sign to ring the bell。 He did so； and Simmons came。 The
moment he entered； and saw the state his master was in； he hastened
to a cupboard； took thence a bottle； poured from it something
colourless； and gave it to him in water。 It brought him to himself。
He sat up again； and in a voice hoarse and terrible said：
〃Think of what I have told you； Forgue。 Do as I would have you； and
the truth is safe； take your way without me； and I will take mine
without you。 Go。〃
Donal went。 Forgue did not move。
What was Donal to do or think now？ Perplexities gathered upon him。
Happily there was time for thought； and for prayer； which is the
highest thinking。 Here was a secret affecting the youth his enemy；
and the boy his friend！ affecting society itselfthat society
which； largely capable and largely guilty of like sins； yet visits
with such unmercy the sins of the fathers upon the children； the
sins of the offender upon the offended！ But there is another who
visits them； and in another fashion！ What was he to do？ Was he to
hold his tongue and leave the thing as not his； or to speak out as
he would have done had the case been his own？ Ought the chance to be
allowed the nameless youth of marrying his cousin？ Ought the next
heir to the lordship to go without his title？ Had they not both a
claim upon Donal for the truth？ Donal thought little of such things
himself； but did