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spoke of； take it from me。 I cannot forget the old time； Beatrice。〃
〃God bless you！〃 she replied with a burst of tears； and gave him her
trembling hand。
〃Compose yourself。 I cannot be composed if you are not； for to see
you weep distresses me beyond expression。 Speak freely to me。 Trust
me。〃
She shaded her face with her veil； and after a little while spoke calmly。
Her voice had the ring of Polly's。
〃It is not that my husband's mind is at all impaired by his bodily
suffering； for I assure you that is not the case。 But in his weakness； and
in his knowledge that he is incurably ill； he cannot overcome the
ascendancy of one idea。 It preys upon him； embitters every moment of
his painful life； and will shorten it。〃
She stopping； he said again： 〃Speak freely to me。 Trust me。〃
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〃We have had five children before this darling； and they all lie in their
little graves。 He believes that they have withered away under a curse；
and that it will blight this child like the rest。〃
〃Under what curse？〃
〃Both I and he have it on our conscience that we tried you very heavily；
and I do not know but that； if I were as ill as he； I might suffer in my mind
as he does。 This is the constant burden：… 'I believe； Beatrice； I was the
only friend that Mr。 Jackson ever cared to make； though I was so much his
junior。 The more influence he acquired in the business； the higher he
advanced me； and I was alone in his private confidence。 I came between
him and you； and I took you from him。 We were both secret； and the
blow fell when he was wholly unprepared。 The anguish it caused a man
so compressed must have been terrible； the wrath it awakened
inappeasable。 So； a curse came to be invoked on our poor； pretty little
flowers； and they fall。'〃
〃And you； Beatrice；〃 he asked； when she had ceased to speak； and
there had been a silence afterwards； 〃how say you？〃
〃Until within these few weeks I was afraid of you； and I believed that
you would never； never forgive。〃
〃Until within these few weeks；〃 he repeated。 〃Have you changed
your opinion of me within these few weeks？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃For what reason？〃
〃I was getting some pieces of music in a shop in this town； when； to
my terror； you came in。 As I veiled my face and stood in the dark end of
the shop； I heard you explain that you wanted a musical instrument for a
bedridden girl。 Your voice and manner were so softened； you showed
such interest in its selection； you took it away yourself with so much
tenderness of care and pleasure； that I knew you were a man with a most
gentle heart。 Oh； Mr。 Jackson； Mr。 Jackson； if you could have felt the
refreshing rain of tears that followed for me！〃
Was Phoebe playing at that moment on her distant couch？ He
seemed to hear her。
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〃I inquired in the shop where you lived； but could get no information。
As I had heard you say that you were going back by the next train （but you
did not say where）； I resolved to visit the station at about that time of day；
as often as I could； between my lessons； on the chance of seeing you again。
I have been there very often； but saw you no more until to…day。 You were
meditating as you walked the street； but the calm expression of your face
emboldened me to send my child to you。 And when I saw you bend your
head to speak tenderly to her； I prayed to GOD to forgive me for having
ever brought a sorrow on it。 I now pray to you to forgive me； and to
forgive my husband。 I was very young； he was young too； and； in the
ignorant hardihood of such a time of life； we don't know what we do to
those who have undergone more discipline。 You generous man！ You
good man！ So to raise me up and make nothing of my crime against
you！〃for he would not see her on her knees； and soothed her as a kind
father might have soothed an erring daughter〃thank you； bless you； thank
you！〃
When he next spoke； it was after having drawn aside the window
curtain and looked out awhile。 Then he only said：
〃Is Polly asleep？〃
〃Yes。 As I came in； I met her going away upstairs； and put her to bed
myself。〃
〃Leave her with me for to…morrow； Beatrice； and write me your
address on this leaf of my pocket…book。 In the evening I will bring her
home to youand to her father。〃
* * *
〃Hallo！〃 cried Polly； putting her saucy sunny face in at the door next
morning when breakfast was ready： 〃I thought I was fetched last night？〃
〃So you were； Polly； but I asked leave to keep you here for the day；
and to take you home in the evening。〃
〃Upon my word！〃 said Polly。 〃You are very cool； ain't you？〃
However； Polly seemed to think it a good idea； and added： 〃I
suppose I must give you a kiss； though you ARE cool。〃
The kiss given and taken； they sat down to breakfast in a highly
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conversational tone。
〃Of course； you are going to amuse me？〃 said Polly。
〃Oh； of course！〃 said Barbox Brothers。
In the pleasurable height of her anticipations； Polly found it
indispensable to put down her piece of toast； cross one of her little fat
knees over the other； and bring her little fat right hand down into her left
hand with a business…like slap。 After this gathering of herself together；
Polly； by that time a mere heap of dimples； asked in a wheedling manner：
〃What are we going to do； you dear old thing？〃
〃Why； I was thinking；〃 said Barbox Brothers； 〃but are you fond of
horses； Polly？〃
〃Ponies； I am；〃 said Polly； 〃especially when their tails are long。 But
horsesn…notoo big； you know。〃
〃Well；〃 pursued Barbox Brothers； in a spirit of grave mysterious
confidence adapted to the importance of the consultation； 〃I did see