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their presence。 He remembered a Proudfoot he had seen at
school； not known： a little； whey…faced urchin； the
despicable member of some lower class。 Could it be this
abortion that had climbed to be an advocate； and now lived in
the birthplace of Flora and the home of John's tenderest
memories？ The chill that had first seized upon him when he
heard of Houston's absence deepened and struck inward。 For a
moment； as he stood under the doors of that estranged house；
and looked east and west along the solitary pavement of the
Royal Terrace； where not a cat was stirring； the sense of
solitude and desolation took him by the throat； and he wished
himself in San Francisco。
And then the figure he made； with his decent portliness； his
whiskers； the money in his purse； the excellent cigar that he
now lighted； recurred to his mind in consolatory comparison
with that of a certain maddened lad who； on a certain spring
Sunday ten years before； and in the hour of church…time
silence； had stolen from that city by the Glasgow road。 In
the face of these changes； it were impious to doubt fortune's
kindness。 All would be well yet； the Mackenzies would be
found； Flora； younger and lovelier and kinder than before；
Alan would be found； and would have so nicely discriminated
his behaviour as to have grown； on the one hand； into a
valued friend of Mr。 Nicholson's； and to have remained； upon
the other； of that exact shade of joviality which John
desired in his companions。 And so； once more； John fell to
work discounting the delightful future： his first appearance
in the family pew； his first visit to his uncle Greig； who
thought himself so great a financier； and on whose purblind
Edinburgh eyes John was to let in the dazzling daylight of
the West； and the details in general of that unrivalled
transformation scene； in which he was to display to all
Edinburgh a portly and successful gentleman in the shoes of
the derided fugitive。
The time began to draw near when his father would have
returned from the office； and it would be the prodigal's cue
to enter。 He strolled westward by Albany Street； facing the
sunset embers； pleased； he knew not why； to move in that cold
air and indigo twilight； starred with street…lamps。 But
there was one more disenchantment waiting him by the way。
At the corner of Pitt Street he paused to light a fresh
cigar； the vesta threw； as he did so； a strong light upon his
features； and a man of about his own age stopped at sight of
it。
'I think your name must be Nicholson；' said the stranger。
It was too late to avoid recognition； and besides； as John
was now actually on the way home； it hardly mattered； and he
gave way to the impulse of his nature。
'Great Scott！' he cried； 'Beatson！' and shook hands with
warmth。 It scarce seemed he was repaid in kind。
'So you're home again？' said Beatson。 'Where have you been
all this long time？'
'In the States；' said John … 'California。 I've made my pile
though； and it suddenly struck me it would be a noble scheme
to come home for Christmas。'
'I see；' said Beatson。 'Well； I hope we'll see something of
you now you're here。'
'Oh； I guess so；' said John； a little frozen。
'Well； ta…ta；' concluded Beatson； and he shook hands again
and went。
This was a cruel first experience。 It was idle to blink
facts： here was John home again； and Beatson … Old Beatson …
did not care a rush。 He recalled Old Beatson in the past …
that merry and affectionate lad … and their joint adventures
and mishaps； the window they had broken with a catapult in
India Place； the escalade of the castle rock； and many
another inestimable bond of friendship； and his hurt surprise
grew deeper。 Well； after all； it was only on a man's own
family that he could count； blood was thicker than water； he
remembered； and the net result of this encounter was to bring
him to the doorstep of his father's house； with tenderer and
softer feelings。
The night had come； the fanlight over the door shone bright；
the two windows of the dining…room where the cloth was being
laid； and the three windows of the drawing…room where Maria
would be waiting dinner； glowed softlier through yellow
blinds。 It was like a vision of the past。 All this time of
his absence life had gone forward with an equal foot； and the
fires and the gas had been lighted； and the meals spread； at
the accustomed hours。 At the accustomed hour； too； the bell
had sounded thrice to call the family to worship。 And at the
thought； a pang of regret for his demerit seized him； he
remembered the things that were good and that he had
neglected； and the things that were evil and that he had
loved； and it was with a prayer upon his lips that he mounted
the steps and thrust the key into the key…hole。
He stepped into the lighted hall； shut the door softly behind
him； and stood there fixed in wonder。 No surprise of
strangeness could equal the surprise of that complete
familiarity。 There was the bust of Chalmers near the stair…
railings； there was the clothes…brush in the accustomed
place； and there； on the hat…stand； hung hats and coats that
must surely be the same as he remembered。 Ten years dropped
from his life； as a pin may slip between the fingers； and the
ocean and the mountains； and the mines； and crowded marts and
mingled races of San Francisco； and his own fortune and his
own disgrace； became； for that one moment； the figures of a
dream that was over。
He took off his hat； and moved mechanically toward the stand；
and there he found a small change that was a great one to
him。 The pin that had been his from boyhood； where he had
flung his balmoral when he loitered home from the Academy；
and his first hat when he came briskly back from college or
the office … his pin was occupied。 'They might have at least
respected my pin！' he thought； and he was moved as by a
slight； and began at once to recollect that he was here an
interloper； in a strange house； which he had entered almost
by a burglary； and where at any moment he might be
scandalously challenged。
He moved at once； his hat still in his hand； to the door of
his father's room； opened it； and entered。 Mr。 Nicholson sat
in the same place and posture as on that last Sunday morning；
only he was older； and greyer； and sterner； and as he now
glanced up and caught the eye of his son； a strange commotion
and a dark flush sprung into his face。
'Father；' said John； steadily； and even cheerfully； for this
was a moment against which he was long ago prepared； 'father；
here I am； and here is the money that I took from you。 I
have come back to ask your forgiveness； and to stay Christmas
with you and the children。'
'Keep your money；' said the father； 'and go！'
'Father！' cried John； 'for God's sake don't receive me this
way。 I've come for … '
'Understand me；' interrupted Mr。 Nicholson； 'you are no son
of mine； and in the sight of God； I wash my hands of you。
One last thing I will tell you； one warning I will give you；
all is discovered； and you are being hunted for your crimes；
if you are still at large it is thanks to me； but I have done
all that I mean to do； and from this time forth I would not
raise one finger … not one finger … to save you from the
gallows！ And now；' with a low voice of absolute authority；
and a single weighty gesture of the finger； 'and now … go！'
CHAPTER VI … THE HOUSE AT MURRAYFIELD
How John passed the evening； in what windy confusion of mind；
in what squalls of anger and lulls of sick collapse； in what
pacing of streets and plunging into public…houses； it would
profit little to relate。 His misery； if it were not
progressive； yet tended in no way to diminish； for in
proportion as grief and indignation abated； fear began to
take their place。 At first； his father's menacing words lay
by in some safe drawer of