Swift the way and now, that same road over which Adrian had journeyed on the day before, so . Yet not half swift enough that through express by which they left the city limits for the little town of Sing Sing, or as would have better suited Indian Joe, of Ossining. Scene of so many tragedies and broken hearts; to be, to-day, a scene of unutterable gladness.  
Margot’s eyes were on the flying landscape, counting the as one counts off the stitches of a tedious seam, and with each mile of progress her growing.
 
“Oh! Adrian! shall we never be there! I can hardly breathe. My heart beats so—I cannot wait, I cannot!”
 
[Pg 320]
 
In the seat behind them Joe still carefully held the old-fashioned shawl and , which Angelique had her young traveler should—but never would—wear. Her hair was out of that decorous plait which had been commanded, and there had been neither time nor friend to substitute new clothes for old. Therefore, it was just as she looked in the woodland that Margot looked now when she was first to meet her father’s eyes; and neither she, nor even Adrian, cared one for the curious glances which her unusual, comfortable .
 
What were clothes? Money could soon buy those, if they were needed, and there would be money abundant, Adrian thought, fingering the “specimens” which the girl desired old Joseph to produce from that wonderful pocket of his, which held so few, yet just the very things that were important.
 
“, Margot. I’m sure of it. I have a friend, a man who deals in mining stocks, [Pg 321]and I’ve seen samples at his office which do not look as pure to me as this.”
 
“These pieces came from the deep cave under the island. Where I was that day during the great storm, the day you came to us. I don’t see why there shouldn’t be plenty of the metal there, for we’re in nearly the same as the copper regions of the great lakes. I hope we may find it in large enough quantities to pay for getting it out.”
 
Adrian was surprised and not wholly pleased by what seemed a mercenary upon her fine character, but was ashamed of his misjudgment when she added:
 
“Because, you see, we’ve suffered so much for money’s sake that we want to use it ourselves to make other people happy. I know what I will do with it, if I ever have much, or even little.”
 
“What is that?”
 
“I will use it to defend the wrongfully . To help the poor men when they come out, even if they have been wicked once. [Pg 322]To comfort the families of those who suffer disgrace and poverty. To forward justice—justice. Oh! Adrian, how far now?”
 
“Fifteen minutes, now. Only fifteen minutes!”
 
“They will never pass! They are longer than the fifteen years of my ignorance, when I didn’t know I had a father. My father. My father.”
 
Over and over, she said the words softly, , as if she could never have enough of all they meant to her; and the listening lad asked once, a trifle warningly:
 
“Are you not at all afraid, Margot, that this unknown father will be different from your ? Remember, though so close of , you are still strangers.”
 
“Why, Adrian! My mother loved him and my uncle. I love him, too, unknowing; but I tell you now, this minute, if I found him all that was bad and , I should still love him and all the more. So love him that he would grow good again and forget all [Pg 323]the evil he must have seen in that evil place. For he is my father, my father.”
 
“Have no fear, I only meant to try you. He is all that you dream and more. He has the noblest face I ever looked on; yes, not even excepting your uncle’s.”
 
“What? you—have seen him?”
 
“Yes. Yesterday;” at which she sat in silent wonder till he said: “Now come. We’re there!&r............