rk eyes gazing steadfastly before her, and did not
reply until Florence had repeated her entreaty; when she drew her hand
within her arm, and said, with the same thoughtful gaze upon the night
outside:

'Tell him that if, in his own present, he can find any reason to
compassionate my past, I sent word that I asked him to do so. Tell him
that if, in his own present, he can find a reason to think less bitterly
of me, I asked him to do so. Tell him, that, dead as we are to one
another, never more to meet on this side of eternity, he knows there is
one feeling in common between us now, that there never was before.'

Her sternness seemed to yield, and there were tears in her dark eyes.

'I trust myself to that,' she said, 'for his better thoughts of me, and
mine of him. When he loves his Florence most, he will hate me least.
When he is most proud and happy in her and her children, he will be most
repentant of his own part in the dark vision of our married life. At
that time, I will be repentant too--let him know it then--and think that
when I thought so much of all the causes that had made me what I was,
I needed to have allowed more for the causes that had made him what he
was. I will try, then, to forgive him his share of blame. Let him try to
forgive me mine!'

'Oh Mama!' said Florence. 'How it lightens my heart, even in such a
strange meeting and parting, to hear this!'

'Strange words in my own ears,' said Edith, 'and foreign to the sound of
my own voice! But even if I had been the wretched creature I have
given him occasion to believe me, I think I could have said them still,
hearing that you and he were very dear to one another. Let him, when
you are dearest, ever feel that he is most forbearing in his thoughts of
me--that I am most forbearing in my thoughts of him! Those are the last
words I send him! Now, goodbye, my life!'

She clasped her in her arms, and seemed to pour out all her woman's soul
of love and tenderness at once.

'This kiss for your child! These kisses for a blessing on your head! My
own dear Florence, my sweet girl, farewell!'

'To meet again!' cried Florence.

'Never again! Never again! When you leave me in this dark room, think
that you have left me in the grave. Remember only that I was once, and
that I loved you!'

And Florence left her, seeing her face no more, but accompanied by her
embraces and caresses to the last.

Cousin Feenix met her at the door, and took her down to Walter