ead to foot. "I don't know what effect it may
have upon her; I don't know what she'll think of me; I don't know that
she'll ever care for her poor father afterwards. But it's best for her
that she should be undeceived, and I must bear the consequences as I
deserve!"

"Mary," said Bertha, "where is your hand? Ah! Here it is; here it is!"
pressing it to her lips with a smile, and drawing it through her arm. "I
heard them speaking softly among themselves last night of some blame
against you. They were wrong."

The Carrier's wife was silent. Caleb answered for her.

"They were wrong," he said.

"I knew it!" cried Bertha, proudly. "I told them so. I scorned to hear a
word! Blame _her_ with justice!" she pressed the hand between her own,
and the soft cheek against her face. "No, I am not so blind as that."

Her father went on one side of her, while Dot remained upon the other,
holding her hand.

"I know you all," said Bertha, "better than you think. But none so well
as her. Not even you, father. There is nothing half so real and so true
about me as she is. If I could be restored to sight this instant, and
not a word were spoken, I could choose her from a crowd! My sister!"

"Bertha, my dear!" said Caleb. "I have something on my mind I want to
tell you while we three are alone. Hear me kindly! I have a confession
to make to you, my darling!"

"A confession, father?"

"I have wandered from the truth, and lost myself, my child," said Caleb
with a pitiable expression in his bewildered face. "I have wandered from
the truth, intending to be kind to you; and have been cruel."

She turned her wonder-stricken face towards him, and repeated "Cruel!"

"He accuses himself too strongly, Bertha," said Dot. "You'll say so
presently. You'll be the first to tell him so."

"He cruel to me!" cried Bertha with a smile of incredulity.

"Not meaning it, my child," said Caleb. "But I have been: though I never
suspected it till yesterday. My dear blind daughter, hear me and forgive
me. The world you live in, heart of mine, doesn't exist as I have
represented it. The eyes you have trusted in have been false to you."

She turned her wonder-stricken face towards him still; but drew back,
and clung closer to her friend.

"Your road in life was rough, my poor one," said Caleb, "and I meant to
smooth it for you. I have altered objects, changed the characters of
people, invented many things that never have been, to make you happier.
I hav