should it not be so? It is a weary
time since you promised first."

"A year ago, there were reasons, as Philip admits now, why I could not
leave Hester and Edward. There are no such reasons now. They are
prosperous: their days of struggle, when they wanted me--my head, my
hands, my little income--are past. Edward's practice has come back to
him, with increase for Mr Walcot. There is nothing more to fear for
them."

"You have done your duty by them: now--"

"_My_ duty! What has it been to theirs? Oh, Maria! what a spectacle
has that been! When I think how they have `overcome evil with good,'
how they have endured, how forgiven, how toiled and watched on their
enemies' behalf, till they have ruled all the minds, and touched all the
hearts, of friends and foes for miles round, I think theirs the most
gracious piece of tribulation that ever befell. At home,--Oh, even you
do not know what a home it is!"

Nor was Margaret herself aware what that home was now. She saw how
Edward had there, too, `overcome evil with good' how he had permanently
established Hester in her highest moods of mind, strengthened her to
overcome the one unhappy tendency from which she had suffered through
the whole of her life, and dispersed all storms from the dwelling
wherein his child was to grow up: but she did not know half the extent
of his victory, or the delight of its rewards. She knew nothing of the
secret shudder with which he looked back upon the entanglement, the
peril, the suffering he had gone through; or of the deep peace which had
settled down upon his soul, now that the struggle was well past. She
little imagined how, when all the world regarded him as an old married
man, his was now, in truth, the soul of the lover: how, from having at
one time pitied, feared, recoiled from her with whom he had connected
himself for life, he had risen, by dint of a religious discharge of duty
towards her, from self-reproach and mere compassion, to patience, to
hope, to interest, to admiration, to love--love at last worthy of hers--
love which satisfied even Hester's imperious affections, and set even
her over-busy mind and heart at rest. Little did Margaret imagine all
this. There was but one, beside Edward himself, who knew it; and that
one was Morris, who daily thanked God that strength had been given
according to the need.

"There is but one person in the world, Maria," said her friend, "on
whose account I cannot help being anxi