ing that great arm round my neck in
kindness she once saved my life with by brute force, I suppose a man's
heart could not resist her. But it will never come to that while my
darling lives. She is my lover, and Jael my sister and my dear friend.
God bless her, and may she be as happy as she deserves. I wish I could
get a word with her, but that seems out of the question to-night. I
shall slip away to bed and my own sad thoughts."

With this he retired unobserved.

In the morning he asked Jael if she would speak to him alone.

"Why not?" said she calmly.

They took a walk in the shrubbery.

"I tried hard to get a word with you yesterday, but you were so taken up
with that puppy."

"He is very good company."

"I have seen the time when I was as good; but it is not so easy to
chatter with a broken heart."

"That is true. Please come to the point, and tell me what you want of me
now."

This was said in such a curious tone, that Henry felt quite discouraged.

He hesitated a moment and then said, "What is the matter with you?
You are a changed girl to me. There's something about you so cold and
severe; it makes me fear I have worn out my friend as well as lost my
love; if it is so, tell me, and I will not intrude my sorrow any more on
you."

There was a noble and manly sadness in the way he said this, and Jael
seemed touched a little by it.

"Mr. Henry," said she, "I'll be frank with you. I can't forgive you
leaving the factory that night without saying a word to me; and if you
consider what I had done before you used me so, and what I suffered
in consequence of your using me so--not that you will ever know all I
suffered, at least I hope not--no, I have tried to forgive you; for, if
you are a sinner, you are a sufferer--but it is no use, I can't. I never
shall forgive you to my dying day."

Henry Little hung his head dejectedly. "That is bad news," he faltered.
"I told you why I did not bid you good-by except by letter: it was out
of kindness. I have begged your pardon for it all the same. I thought
you were an angel; but I see you are only a woman; you think the time to
hit a man is when he is down. Well, I can but submit. Good-by. Stay one
moment, let me take your hand, you won't refuse me that." She did not
deign a word; he took her hand and held it. "This is the hand and arm
that worked with me like a good master: this is the hand and arm that
overpowered a blackguard and saved me: this is the hand and a