I
fear it was an evil day for us both when we came to this place."
"I've thought so too, Cousin Ik," she said kindly; "but I don't
now. I'm glad I came here, though it has cost me a great deal of
suffering and--and--may--but no matter. I was better and worse than
you thought me. I must in sincerity say that it has been hard to
forgive you, for your suspicion wounded me more deeply than you'll
ever know. But my own need of forgiveness has taught me to forgive
others; and I now see that I also have been very disagreeable to
you, Ik. Let us exchange forgiveness and be friends."
"Ida, what has come over you? You are no more like the girl that
I brought to the country than I'm like the self-satisfied fool that
accompanied you."
"No, Ik, you are not a fool, and never were; but, like myself, you
had a good deal of self-complacency, and not much cause for it.
Pardon me for speaking plainly, but after what has passed between
us we can afford to be frank. You may not win Jennie Burton, but
I believe she'll wake you up, and make a strong, genuine man of
you."
"Ida," he said in a low tone, and with lips that quivered a little,
"I'm not sorry that I love Jennie Burton, though in consequence I
may never see another happy day.
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