not be
distressed. Rhoda shall know. I will not be guilty of falsehoods any
more--no more! Will you go to her? Tell her--tell Rhoda what I am. Say I
have been ill. It will save her from a great shock."

She covered her eyes.

"I said in all my letters that my husband was a gentleman."

It was her first openly penitential utterance in his presence, and her
cheeks were faintly reddened. It may have been this motion of her blood
which aroused the sunken humanity within her; her heart leaped, and she
cried "I can see her as I am, I can. I thought it impossible. Oh! I can.
Will she come to me? My sister is a Christian and forgives. Oh! let me
see her. And go to her, dear Mr. Robert, and ask her--tell her all, and
ask her if I may be spared, and may work at something--anything, for my
livelihood near my sister. It is difficult for women to earn money,
but I think I can. I have done so since my illness. I have been in the
hospital with brain fever. He was lodging in the house with me before.
He found me at the hospital. When I came out, he walked with me to
support me: I was very weak. He read to me, and then asked me to marry
him. He asked again. I lay in bed one night, and with my eyes open, I
saw the dangers of women, and the trouble of my father and sister;
and pits of wickedness. I saw like places full of snakes. I had such a
yearning for protection. I gave him my word I would be his wife, if he
was not ashamed of a wife like me. I wished to look once in father's
face. I had fancied that Rhoda would spurn me, when she discovered my
falsehood. She--sweet dear! would she ever? Go to her. Say, I do not
love any man. I am heart-dead. I have no heart except for her. I cannot
love a husband. He is good, and it is kind: but, oh! let me be spared.
His face!--"

She pressed her hands tight into the hollow of her eyes.

"No; it can't be meant. Am I very ungrateful? This does not seem to be
what God orders. Only if this must be! only if it must be! If my sister
cannot look on me without! He is good, and it is unselfish to take a
moneyless, disgraced creature: but, my misery!--If my sister will see
me, without my doing this!--Go to her, Mr. Robert. Say, Dahlia was
false, and repents, and has worked with her needle to subsist, and can,
and will, for her soul strives to be clean. Try to make her understand.
If Rhoda could love you, she would know. She is locked up--she is only
ideas. My sweet is so proud. I love her for her pride,