Then his
kindness to all dumb animals, and the way they love him, is the
most amazing thing I ever knew. If we were alone here to-night,
every animal in the house would be around his chair. He has even
the cats locked up if we have visitors, so that no one shall see
it. But I am quite honest when I tell you this--I do not believe
that my father has the ordinary outlook upon crime. I believe
that there is a good deal more of the Old Testament about him
than the New."
"And this change which we were speaking about?" he asked,
lowering his voice as they reached the lawn.
"I believe that somehow or other the end is coming," she said.
"Francis, forgive me if I tell you this--or rather let me be
forgiven--but I know of one crime my father has committed, and it
makes me fear that there may be others. And I have the feeling,
somehow, that the end is close at hand and that he feels it, just
as we might feel a thunder-storm in the air."
"I am going to prove the immemorial selfishness of my sex," he
whispered, as they drew near the little table. "Promise me one
thing and I don't care if your father is Beelzebub himself.
Promise me that, whatever happens, it shall not make any
difference to us?"
She smiled at him very wonderfully, a smile which had to take the
place of words, for there were servants now within hearing, and
Sir Timothy himself was standing in the doorway.
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