T H E P R O D I G A L S
MORRISON AND GIBB, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH.
THE PRODIGALS
AND THEIR INHERITANCE
BY
MRS. OLIPHANT
AUTHOR OF
“CHRONICLES OF CARLINGFORD” “THE WIZARD’S SON”
ETC. ETC.
IN TWO VOLUMES
VOL. I
Methuen & Co.
36 ESSEX STREET, LONDON, W.C.
1894
Chapter: I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X.
T H E P R O D I G A L S
CHAPTER I
“IS it to-night he is coming, Winnie?”
“Yes, father. I have sent the dog-cart to the station.”
“It was unnecessary, quite unnecessary. What has he to do with dog-cartsor any luxury? He should have been left to find his way as best hecould. It is not many dog-carts he will find waiting at his beck andcall. That sort of indulgence, it is only putting nonsense in his head,and making him think I don’t mean what I say.”
“But, father”—
“Don’t father me. Why don’t you speak{6} like other girls in yourposition? You have always been brought up to be a lady; you ought to usethe same words that ladies use. And mind you, Winifred, don’t make anymistake, I mean what I say. Tom can talk, none better, but he will notget over me; I have washed my hands of him. So long as I thought theseboys were going to do me credit I spared nothing on them; but now that Iknow better—Don’t let him try to get over me, for it is no use.”
“Oh, papa, he is still so young; he has done nothing very bad, onlyfoolishness, only what you used to say all young men did.”
“Things are come to a pretty pass,” said the father, “when girls likeyou, who call themselves modest girls, take up the defence of ablackguard like Tom.{7}”
“He is not a blackguard,” cried the girl colouring to her hair.
“You are an authority on the subject, I suppose? But perhaps I know alittle better. He and his brother have taken me in—me, a man that neverwas taken in in my life before! but now I wash my hands of them both.There’s the money for his journey and the letter to Stafford. No—onsecond thoughts I’ll not give him the money for his journey; he’d stayin London and spend it, and then think there was more where that camefrom. Write down the office of the Cable Line in Liverpool—he’ll gethis ticket there.”
“But you’ll see him, papa?”
“Why should I see him? I know what would happen—you and he togetherwould fling yourselves at my feet, or some of that nonsense. Yes, you’reright—on the whole, I think I will see