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.
Complete
Methuen & Co.
36 ESSEX STREET, LONDON, W.C.
1894
Chapter: I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX, XX, XXI.
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