"That's a good child!" he responded, sitting down beside her and smoothing
her hair with fond, caressing hand. "Now, what shall I do to please you?"
"Stay here, close beside me, and hold my hand, and talk to me."
"Very well," he answered, closing his fingers over the hand she put into
his, then lifting it to his lips. "How your face has changed, love, since
that frightened look you gave me when I came in with the lamp last night."
"How frightened and ashamed I was, Ned!" she exclaimed, tears springing to
her eyes; "I felt that you had a right to beat me if you wanted to, and I
shouldn't have said a word if you'd done it."
"But you couldn't have feared that?" he said, with a pained look, and
coloring deeply.
"No, oh, _no, indeed_! I know you would _never_ do that, but I dreaded
what you might say, and did not at all expect you would be so kind and
forgiving and loving to me.
"But how was I brought up here? I knew nothing from the instant you were
at my side on the door-step till I saw you coming in with the lamp."
"In your husband's arms."
"What a heavy load for you to carry!" she said, looking at him with
concern.
Pages:
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287