"
"It is right--it is just!" said the professor, solemnly, though still
with a sluggish utterance. "I sought to glorify God to the end of mine
own glorification, and lo! He hath taken from me my own heart's blood!"
Swept off his feet by the profundity of his emotion, the ministerial
form of speech, so long disused, rose naturally to the old man's lips.
But presently, the paralyzing effect of the shock beginning to wear off,
he drew a few long breaths, and found himself growing very hot. He took
out his handkerchief and wiped away the perspiration that had gathered
on his forehead. Then he took his little daughter strongly yet
tremblingly to his heart, and kissed her more than once.
"God bless you! my darling--my Sophie--you're my Sophie still, if you
are in love with that--great overgrown rascal. I'm a fool--an old fool!
Well--and how long has this been going on between you, my darling?"
Sophie's heart, which, in the passionate tumult of her recent interview
with her lover, had remained so steady and unfaltering, began now to
beat with such violence as to impede her utterance and visibly to shake
her. She was resolved to show herself to her father even as she was.
"I hardly can say how long, papa--I think--I think it must have been
a--a long time--at least, on my side.
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