hate the sight of the man you love, and who's your father

after all. In short, Esther, you don't know what it is to

have a father, and that's what blinds you.'

I see,' she said musingly, 'you mean that I am fortunate in

my father. But I am not so fortunate after all; you forget,

I do not know him; it is you who know him; he is already more

your father than mine.' And here she took his hand. Dick's

heart had grown as cold as ice. 'But I am sorry for you,

too,' she continued, 'it must be very sad and lonely.'

'You misunderstand me,' said Dick, chokingly. 'My father is

the best man I know in all this world; he is worth a hundred

of me, only he doesn't understand me, and he can't be made

to.'

There was a silence for a while. 'Dick,' she began again, 'I

am going to ask a favour, it's the first since you said you

loved me. May I see your father - see him pass, I mean,

where he will not observe me?'

'Why?' asked Dick.

'It is a fancy; you forget, I am romantic about fathers.'

The hint was enough for Dick; he consented with haste, and

Tales and Fantasies