When the time approached for him to leave prison, his father and
mother consulted as to what course they should adopt.
"We must never leave him to himself," said Theobald impressively;
"we can neither of us wish that."
"Oh, no! no! dearest Theobald," exclaimed Christina. "Whoever else
deserts him, and however distant he may be from us, he must still feel
that he has parents whose hearts beat with affection for him no matter
how cruelly he has pained them."
"He has been his own worst enemy," said Theobald. "He has never
loved us as we deserved, and now he will be withheld by false shame
from wishing to see us. He will avoid us if he can."
"Then we must go to him ourselves," said Christina; "whether he
likes it or not we must be at his side to support him as he enters
again upon the world."
"If we do not want him to give us the slip we must catch him as he
leaves prison."
"We will, we will; our faces shall be the first to gladden his
eyes as he comes out, and our voices the first to exhort him to return
to the paths of virtue."
"I think," said Theobald, "if he sees us in the street he will
turn round and run away from us. He is intensely selfish.
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