that I have forgiven you for all your pardon and patience is shown
by my enduring to leave Owen to you now.'

Therewith surged up such a flood of passionate emotions that, fleeing
from them as it were, the bride tore herself out of Honor's arms, and
sprang hastily into the carriage, nervously and hastily moving about its
contents while Mr. Prendergast finished his farewells.

After all, there was a certain sense of rest, snugness, and freedom from
turmoil, when Honor dried her eyes and went back to her convalescent.
The house seemed peaceful, and they both felt themselves entering into
the full enjoyment of being all in all to one another.

There was one guest at the Sutton wedding whose spirit was at St.
Wulstan's. In those set eyes, and tightly-closed lips, might be traced
abstraction in spite of himself. Were there not thoughts and prayers for
another bride, elsewhere kneeling? Was not the solitary man struggling
with the last remnants of fancies at war with his life of self-devotion,
and crushing down the few final regrets, that would have looked back to
the dreams of his youth. No marvel that his greatest effort was against
being harsh and unsympathizing, even while his whole career was an
endeavour to work through charities of deed and word into charities of
thought and judgment.

CHAPTER XXX

Untouched by love, the maiden's breast
Is like the snow on Rona's crest
High seated in the middle sky,
In bright and barren purity;
But by the sunbeam gently kissed,
Scarce by the gazing eye 'tis missed,
Ere down the lonely valley stealing,
Fresh grass and growth its course revealing;
It cheers the flock, revives the flower,
And decks some happy shepherd's bower.--SCOTT

Slow to choose, but decided in her choice, Phoebe had always been, and
her love formed no exception to this rule. She was quite aware that her
heart had been given away, and never concealed it from herself, though
she made it a principle not to indulge in future castle buildings, and
kept a resolute guard over her attention. It was impossible to obviate a
perpetual feeling of restlessness and of tedium in whatever she was
about; but she conquered oftener than she gave way, and there was an
indescribable sense of peace and sweetness in a new and precious
possession, and an undefined hope through all.

Miss Fennimore, who came the day after the girls' return from Sutton, saw
only the fuller develop