protection；　it　would　leave　Mr。　Moreen　and　herself　so　much　more　free
  to　give　the　proper　attention　（too　little；　alas！　had　been　given）　to
  the　readjustment　of　their　affairs。
  〃We　trust　you　…　we　feel　we　CAN；〃　said　Mrs。　Moreen；　slowly　rubbing
  her　plump　white　hands　and　looking　with　compunction　hard　at　Morgan；
  whose　chin；　not　to　take　liberties；　her　husband　stroked　with　a
  paternal　forefinger。
  〃Oh　yes　…　we　feel　that　we　CAN。　　We　trust　Mr。　Pemberton　fully；
  Morgan；〃　Mr。　Moreen　pursued。
  Pemberton　wondered　again　if　he　might　pretend　not　to　understand；　but
  everything　good　gave　way　to　the　intensity　of　Morgan's
  understanding。　　〃Do　you　mean　he　may　take　me　to　live　with　him　for
  ever　and　ever？〃　cried　the　boy。　　〃May　take　me　away；　away；　anywhere
  he　likes？〃
  〃For　ever　and　ever？　　Comme　vous…y…allez！〃　Mr。　Moreen　laughed
  indulgently。　　〃For　as　long　as　Mr。　Pemberton　may　be　so　good。〃
  〃We've　struggled；　we've　suffered；〃　his　wife　went　on；　〃but　you've
  made　him　so　your　own　that　we've　already　been　through　the　worst　of
  the　sacrifice。〃
  Morgan　had　turned　away　from　his　father　…　he　stood　looking　at
  Pemberton　with　a　light　in　his　face。　　His　sense　of　shame　for　their
  common　humiliated　state　had　dropped；　the　case　had　another　side　…
  the　thing　was　to　clutch　at　THAT。　　He　had　a　moment　of　boyish　joy；
  scarcely　mitigated　by　the　reflexion　that　with　this　unexpected
  consecration　of　his　hope　…　too　sudden　and　too　violent；　the　turn
  taken　was　away　from　a　GOOD　boy's　book　…　the　〃escape〃　was　left　on
  their　hands。　　The　boyish　joy　was　there　an　instant；　and　Pemberton
  was　almost　scared　at　the　rush　of　gratitude　and　affection　that　broke
  through　his　first　abasement。　　When　he　stammered　〃My　dear　fellow；
  what　do　you　say　to　THAT？〃　how　could　one　not　say　something
  enthusiastic？　　But　there　was　more　need　for　courage　at　something
  else　that　immediately　followed　and　that　made　the　lad　sit　down
  quietly　on　the　nearest　chair。　　He　had　turned　quite　livid　and　had
  raised　his　hand　to　his　left　side。　　They　were　all　three　looking　at
  him；　but　Mrs。　Moreen　suddenly　bounded　forward。　　〃Ah　his　darling
  little　heart！〃　she　broke　out；　and　this　time；　on　her　knees　before
  him　and　without　respect　for　the　idol；　she　caught　him　ardently　in
  her　arms。　　〃You　walked　him　too　far；　you　hurried　him　too　fast！〃　she
  hurled　over　her　shoulder　at　Pemberton。　　Her　son　made　no　protest；
  and　the　next　instant；　still　holding　him；　she　sprang　up　with　her
  face　convulsed　and　with　the　terrified　cry　〃Help；　help！　he's　going；
  he's　gone！〃　　Pemberton　saw　with　equal　horror；　by　Morgan's　own
  stricken　face；　that　he　was　beyond　their　wildest　recall。　　He　pulled
  him　half　out　of　his　mother's　hands；　and　for　a　moment；　while　they
  held　him　together；　they　looked　all　their　dismay　into　each　other's
  eyes；　〃He　couldn't　stand　it　with　his　weak　organ；〃　said　Pemberton　…
  〃the　shock；　the　whole　scene；　the　violent　emotion。〃
  〃But　I　thought　he　WANTED　to　go　to　you！〃；　wailed　Mrs。　Moreen。
  〃I　TOLD　you　he　didn't；　my　dear；〃　her　husband　made　answer。　　Mr。
  Moreen　was　trembling　all　over　and　was　in　his　way　as　deeply　affected
  as　his　wife。　　But　after　the　very　first　he　took　his　bereavement　as　a
  man　of　the　world。
  End