Love seems to me everything!--being
kind--not giving pain. And for you there's something greater--what the
Church says--what the Bible says. And I could never see that. I could never
agree. I could never submit. And we should be miserable. You'd think I was
wicked--and I--well!"--she panted a little, trying for her words--"there
are ugly--violent--feelings in me sometimes. I couldn't hate
_you_--but--Edward--just now--I felt I could hate--what you believe!"
The sudden change in his look smote her to the heart. She held out her
hands, imploring.
"Forgive me! Oh, do forgive me!"
During her outburst he had risen, and was now leaning against a young tree
beside her, looking down upon her--white and motionless. He had made no
effort to take her hands, and they dropped upon her knee.
"This is terrible!" he said, as though to himself, and
half-consciously--"terrible!"
"But indeed--indeed--it's best." Her voice, which was little more than a
whisper, was broken by a sob. She buried her face in the hands he had left
untaken.
The minutes seemed endless till he spoke again; and then it was with a
composure which seemed to her like the momentary quiet that may come--the
sudden furling of the winds--in the very midst of tempest.
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