I cherished no resentment toward Charley, knowing him as I did, but I
knew the folly of trying to reason with him in the state of mind in
which he left me. It must have been a hard struggle with his pride, for
Charley was very proud, but his good sense prevailed, and he came to
seek me. "You are freely and fully forgiven," said I, in reply to his
humble acknowledgment of wrong-doing; "but _do_ Charley for your own
sake as well as that of others try and subdue a disposition which if not
conquered, will render you unhappy for life. If I am your friend does it
follow that I must have no other, and the making of other friends will
never diminish my regard for you, the earliest and best friend I have
ever known." "I am sensible," replied he, "of all and more than you can
tell me of the unreasonableness and absurdity of my own conduct, and
again and again have I resolved to gain the mastery, and often, when I
begin to have confidence in my own powers of control, this exclusive
jealous disposition will suddenly rise and put to naught all my
resolutions of amendment. If you could know what I endure from it you
would pity instead of blame me. But let us part friends, and I will try
to exercise more reason for the future." We talked long together, for
the morrow would again separate us, and it might be long before we would
meet again. I had spent a happy month in the cool shady village of
Elmwood, and returned to my labors with body and mind both strengthened
and refreshed.

CHAPTER XXVII.

About the middle of October, Robert Dalton was taken ill. His disease
seemed a kind of low fever, and in a short time he was completely
prostrated. All the leisure I could possibly command I spent at his
bedside, and many hours did I forego sleep that I might minister to his
wants. The family with whom he boarded were very attentive, but I knew
he was pleased with my attention, and exerted myself to spend as much
time with him as possible. Several days passed away with little apparent
change in his symptoms, but he grew extremely weak. His physician was
of the opinion that he was tired out from long and close application
to his business; but thought he would soon recover under the necessary
treatment. One evening, when he had been about two weeks ill, I went as
I had often done to sit by him for a portion of the night; after the
family had all retired, I administered a quieting cordial left by the
doctor, and shading the lamp that the