se."

"I would rather be false than ruin Notely."

"You thought that it would ruin him? You had some assistance in that
belief; his lady mother came to see you; the property is hers. If he
transgresses, no property, no wealthy Grace Langham, no easy glory at
the bar or in the state. What were those to your love, Vesty?"

She looked up, dim, and shook her head. "You have done a wilful,
blind, impetuous thing. You were piqued, proud, angry, and so you gave
yourself, body and soul, to this mad leap."

"I don't care for my body (sob) or soul (sob) if Notely isn't sick."

"There is One who is above Notely, to punish as well as to pity, Vesty."

"God"--very softly--"oh, yes!" The bewildered, grief-tormented eyes
looked faith into mine. "I didn't mean that. I asked Him. I could
only find one way. He won't let Notely come to harm, but help him to
make the best of himself."

"Your lover is a brave man. He would not have been selfish toward you
as this great hulk, Gurdon. He knew you intelligently. He would have
lifted, considered, cared for you."

Vesty held herself aloft, pale. "Gurdon is good. If any one ever
asked Gurd for anything he always gave it to them."

I leaned my head on my hand, my heart leaping. Vesty came near me.
"Tell me that you do not think it is a great mistake--such a great--a
lost--mistake; for Notely's sake, tell me! I looked so for you to
come. I wanted you."

To have touched one thread of her dark hair, bowed there before me! I
did not touch her.

"Ah, the mistake!" I said; "ah, the pity of it! You do not tell me how
_you_ have suffered, Vesty; how your own heart has been torn."

She took my hand, and, turning her head, pushed it gently away from
her, as some blind instrument of torture.

"The last time I heard you sing, Vesty, you put your hands on Uncle
Benny's poor, confused head and soothed and guided him. Who was there
to help or guide you, motherless child, confused and lost?"

"Could you have seen the way?" How she entreated me!

"No one sees the way. But a broken heart and a life--misguided and
lost though it be--_given_."

She looked up, dim, again.

"You will make them happy here," I added. Ah, that she understood!
She looked about the room with a sad, brave pride, and rose and stood
again, a striking picture there.

"They did need _me_," she said; "_he_ needed me more than Notely. And
I shall get time, besides, to go over to father's and help with