"
Her tone was full of a deep sorrow, and for once, young as she was,
Hepsie understood that here was an emotion upon which she must not
remark, though she muttered in her own heart:
"All through his own wicked old temper."
Mrs. Erldon took Hepsie's hand in her own as they walked towards the
little home at the end of the long country lane.
[Sidenote: Mrs. Erldon Explains]
"I will not scold you, my darling," she said; "but in future never
forget that God Himself commands that we shall honour our parents, and
even if they grieve their children, Hepsie, that does not do away with
children's duty, and a parent is a parent as long as life lasts--to be
honoured and--loved! You are twelve years old, dear, and big enough now
to understand how sad I am that my dear old father will not forgive me
for marrying your father, and I think I had better explain things a
little to you, Hepsie. There was some one--a rich cousin--whom my father
had always hoped and wished that I should marry as soon as I was old
enough; but when I was twenty-one, and was travelling with grandfather,
you know, that is my own father--we made the acquaintance of a gentleman
in South Africa--Alfred Erldon--who was of English parentage, but had
lived out there all his life. Well, Hepsie, I need only say that this
gentleman and I decided to marry against grandfather's desire. We were
married in Johannesburg, to his great displeasure, so he refused to have
anything to do with us, and returned to England, declaring he would
never speak to me again.
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