The meeting between Emily and her uncle was not embarrassed by any formal greetings.  Jaspar did not even raise his eyes from the floor, as she entered.  He heard the door close, and being aware by the silence of the parties—­for De Guy had judged an announcement unnecessary—­that they were ready to hear him, he said, in a gentle tone,

“Emily, I have sent for you to receive a proposition, which will finally terminate the unfortunate circumstances that have shrouded our family in hostility and misery.”

“Indeed, uncle, I have no feeling of hostility towards you.  God forbid!” replied Emily, upon whose agitated senses Jaspar’s mild words had fallen like promises of peace.

Jaspar was astonished.  He had lost much of the severity of his disposition in the miseries which had overtaken him.  He was humiliated, his spirit broken, and he could not understand why his victim did not upbraid him, as he expected, for the wrongs he had inflicted.  A momentary hope of reconciliation on better terms crossed his mind; but there stood the attorney, who would permit no other compromise.

“I restore your fortune,” said Jaspar, with a shudder, as he raised his head for the first time from the floor to look upon his niece,—­“I restore it, on one condition.”

“Name not the fortune, uncle; your peace and happiness are far dearer to me than all the wealth of the world.  You have wronged me, but I freely forgive you; and Heaven will also forgive you, if you sin no more.  O, uncle, I beseech you dismiss this evil man, and let me be to you as a daughter!”

“Let us attend to business, if you please, Mr. Dumont,” said the attorney, in a whining tone; for, it must be confessed, the conversation had assumed a different turn from what he had anticipated.

“I must state the business for which I requested your presence,” said Jaspar, not a little moved by the words of Emily.  Human nature is a strange compound of inconsistencies.  This man, whose life had been stained with crime, was now disposed to regard the past with contrition.  We have seen him scorning even an allusion to the higher life of the soul,—­but success was then within the reach of his crime-stained hand!  Now, failure on every hand awaited him, and all those bravadoes with which he had kept down his better nature deserted him.  Not one scornful thought came to banish the good angel from his presence.  But the feeling was of short duration.  It was but a momentary contrition, which a selfish hope or a burst of passion could dissipate.

“I will restore your fortune, on one condition,” said he.  “You can accept or reject it, at your option.”

“I beg your pardon,” suggested the attorney, “these were not exactly the terms of our contract.”

“Name the condition, uncle,” added Emily, indifferently; for she was anxious to have the business, whatever it might be, finished, so that she could again plead with Jaspar for his personal reformation, for she was a little encouraged by the appearance of humiliation he had manifested.