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will forgive me； I hope。 If He doesn't； I can't help it。〃
He kissed Grace again and again； and comforted her； said she was not to blame； honest people were no match for villains： if she had been twice as simple； he would have forgiven her at sight of the stiletto； that cleared her； in his mind； better than words。
He was now soft and gentle as a lamb。 He begged Jael's pardon humbly for leaving Hillsborough without telling her。 He said he had gone up to her room； but all was still； and he was a working man； and the sleep of a working…woman was sacred to him（he would have awakened a fine lady without ceremony）。 Be assured her he had left a note for her in his box； thanking and blessing her for all her goodness。 He said that he hoped he might yet live to prove by acts； and not by idle words； how deeply he felt all she had done and suffered for him。
Jael received these excuses in hard silence。 〃That is enough about me；〃 said she； coldly。 〃If you are grateful to me； show it by taking my advice。 Leave vengeance to Him who has said that vengeance is His。〃
The man's whole manner changed directly； and he said doggedly：
〃Well； I will be His instrument。〃
〃He will choose His own。〃
〃I'll lend my humble co…operation。〃
〃Oh； do not argue with him；〃 said Grace； piteously。 〃When did a man ever yield to our arguments？ Dearest； I can't argue： but I am full of misery； and full of fears。 You see my love； you forgive my folly。 Have pity on me； think of my condition： do not doom me to live in terror by night and day： have I not enough to endure； my own darling？ There； promise me you will do nothing rash to…night； and that you will come to me the first thing to…morrow。 Why； you have not seen your mother yet； she is at Raby Hall。〃
〃My dear mother！〃 said he： 〃it would be a poor return for all your love if I couldn't put off looking for that scum till I have taken you in my arms。〃
And so Grace got a reprieve。
They parted in deep sorrow； but almost as lovingly as ever； and Little went at once to Raby Hall； and Grace； exhausted by so many emotions； lay helpless on a couch in her own room all the rest of the day。
For some time she lay in utter prostration； and only the tears that trickled at intervals down her pale cheeks showed that she was conscious of her miserable situation。
Jael begged and coaxed her to take some nourishment： but she shook her head with disgust at the very idea。
For all that at nine o'clock； her faithful friend almost forced a few spoonfuls of tea down her throat； feeding her like a child： and； when she had taken it； she tried to thank her； but choked in the middle； and； flinging her arm round Jael's neck； burst into a passion of weeping； and incoherent cries of love； and pity； and despair。 〃Oh； my darling！ so great！ so noble！ so brave！ so gentle！ And I have destroyed us both！ he forgave me as soon as he SAW me！ So terrible； so gentle！ What will be the next calamity？ Ah； Jael！ save him from that rash act； and I shall never complain； for he was dead； and is alive again。〃
〃We will find some way to do that between usyou； and I； and his mother。〃
〃Ah； yes： she will be on my side in that。 But she will be hard upon me。 She will point out all my faults； my execrable folly。 Ah； if I could but live my time over again； I'd pray night and day for selfishness。 They teach us girls to pray for this and that virtue； which we have too much of already； and what we ought to pray for is selfishness。 But no！ I must think of my father； and think of that hypocrite： but the one person whose feelings I was too mean； and base； and silly to consult； was myself。 I always abhorred this marriage。 I feared it； and loathed it； yet I yielded step by step； for want of a little selfishness； we are slaves without itmean； pitiful； contemptible slaves。 O God； in mercy give me selfishness！ Ah me； it is too late now。 I am a lost creature； nothing is left me but to die。〃
Jael got her to bed； and sleep came at last to her exhausted body； but； even when her eyes were closed； tears found their way through the lids； and wetted her pillow。
So can great hearts and loving natures suffer。
Can they enjoy in proportion？
Let us hope so。 But I have my doubts。
Henry Little kept his word； and came early next morning。 He looked hopeful and excited： he said he had thought the matter over； and was quite content to let that scoundrel live； and even to dismiss all thought of him； if Grace really loved him。
〃If I love you！〃 said Grace。 〃Oh； Henry； why did I ask you to do nothing rash； but that I love you？ Why did I attempt his life myself？ because you said in your letter It was not to revenge myself； but to save you from more calamity。 Cruel； cruel！ Do I love him？〃
〃I know you love me； Grace： but do you love me enough？ Will you give up the world for me； and let us be happy together； the only way we can？ My darling Grace； I have made our fortune； all the world lies before us； I left England alone； for you； now leave it with me； and let us roam the world together。〃
〃Henry！what！when I can not be your wife！〃
〃You can be my wife； my wife in reality； as you are his in name and nothing else。 It is idle to talk as if we were in some ordinary situation。 There are plenty of countries that would disown such a marriage as yours； a mere ceremony obtained by fraud； and canceled by a stroke with a dagger and instant separation。 Oh； my darling； don't sacrifice both our lives to a scruple that is out of place here。 Don't hesitate； don't delay。 I have a carriage waiting outside； end all our misery by one act of courage； and trust yourself to me； did I ever fail you？〃
〃For shame； Henry！ for shame！〃
〃It is the only way to happiness。 You were quite right； if I kill that wretch we shall be parted in another way； always parted； now we can be together for life。 Remember； dearest； how I begged you in this very room to go to the United States with me： you refused： well； have you never been sorry you refused？ Now I once more implore you to be wise and brave； and love me as I love you。 What is the world to us？ You are all the world to me。〃
〃Answer him； Jael； oh； answer him！〃
〃Nay； these are things every woman must answer for herself。〃
〃And I'll take no answer but yours。〃 Then he threw himself at her feet； and clasping her in his arms implored her； with all the sighs and tears and eloquence of passion； to have pity on them both； and fly at once with him。
She writhed and struggled faintly； and turned away from him； and fell tenderly toward him； by turns； and still he held her tight； and grew stronger； more passionate； more persuasive； as she got weaker and almost faint。 Her body seemed on the point of sinking； and her mind of yielding。
But all of a sudden she made a desperate effort。 〃Let me go！〃 she cried。 〃So this is your love！ With all my faults and follies； I am truer than you。 Shame on your love； that would dishonor the creature you love！ Let me go； sir； I say； or I shall hate you worse than I do the wretch whose name I bear。〃
He let her go directly； and then her fiery glance turned to one long lingering look of deep but tender reproach； and she fled sobbing。
He sank i