On their way to the Hall, Derrick and his father spoke of many things of
the past and the future; and presently the old man said in a low voice, "You will be married soon, Derrick?"
"The first moment Celia will have me," replied Derrick, promptly.
"I would like you to spend your honeymoon in South America," said his
father.
Derrick understood, and he nodded and laid his hand on the old man's.
"And you, sir? Shall you go there--soon?"
Mr. Clendon shook his head. "No," he responded. "The chasm between us is
too wide, has divided us for too long a time. But it shall be as your
mother wishes. You will talk to her----We will leave her future and mine
on the knees of the gods. But yours, thank God! is assured. How
strangely Fate works! How little I thought, when I helped Celia to come
to the Hall, that I was lending a guiding hand to the future of my son's
wife. Derrick, that same fate has been very good to you."
"Don't I know it, sir!" said Derrick in a low voice.
They reached the Hall; and as they entered, they could not but be
conscious of the stir of excitement there; the old butler and the other
servants looked at them with an intense interest. As the two men stood
in the hall, waiting the summons to the sick-room, Derrick looked round
him eagerly; but it was not at the subdued splendour surrounding him; he
scarcely noted the indications of luxury and wealth, the wealth and
state to which he was heir; he was looking and listening for some sign
of Celia; and he was so absorbed that he started when his father touched
his arm and directed his gaze to a portrait.
"That is mine, Derrick," he said. "Do you see any resemblance to
yourself?"
"Yes; I think--yes, I do," replied Derrick.
"I noticed it yesterday, directly I entered the hall, for the first time
for many years."
The footman came down to say that they might go up, and they ascended
the broad stairs, Derrick still looking about him and listening; but
Celia did not appear. They were ushered into the sick-room, and the door
closed on them; and they remained there for nearly half an hour; for the
injured man had recovered something of his old strength, as if a burden
had been lifted from his shoulders, and he was able to hear the story of
Derrick's identity and to speak a few words of relief and satisfaction.
When they left the room both Derrick and his father were much moved, and
they went down the stairs in silence. Derrick stopped as they reached
the hall, and again looked round him.