Well I knew, as the years
passed, that the Earl's heart was with David, but he had not the courage
to face it all, so worn away was the man in him. Ah, if the lad had
always been with him--who can tell?--he might have been different!
Whether so or not, it was the lad's right to take his place his mother
gave him, let be whatever his father was. 'Twas a cruel thing done to
him. His own was his own, to run his race as God A'mighty had laid the
hurdles, not as Luke Claridge willed. I'm sick of seeing yonder fellow in
Our Man's place, he that will not give him help, when he may; he that
would see him die like a dog in the desert, brother or no brother--"
"He does not know--Lord Eglington does not know the truth?" interposed
the old man in a heavy whisper. "He does not know, but, if he knew, would
it matter to him! So much the more would he see Our Man die yonder in the
sands. I know the breed. I know him yonder, the skim-milk lord. There is
no blood of justice, no milk of kindness in him. Do you think his father
that I friended in this thing--did he ever give me a penny, or aught save
that hut on the hill that was not worth a pound a year? Did he ever do
aught to show that he remembered?--Like father like son.
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