160 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



fingers to the use of a needle, and said, " Ger- 

 trude, will you be contented to remain here in 

 acknowledged embarrassment, shut up from the 

 world, and endeavouring with me to save and to 

 pay ; or, will you for a time return to your father 

 and mother ? You know they will receive you 

 with open arms ; and you can there have the 

 comforts so necessary to you and our poor little 

 children. I really think it will be the wisest 

 course to ask an asylum from them ; for how 

 can you adapt yourself to our present circum- 

 stances ?" 



" If you do not actually drive me from you, 

 my dear Edward," I replied, "if you will suffer 

 me to remain with you, poignantly as I feel the 

 reproach implied in your proposal, it will be my 

 only consolation to share your difficulties, and to 

 expiate my follies by a devoted economy." 



" I felt I knew that would be your decision," 

 said he, as a tear stole down his cheeks. After a 

 few days had passed, Mr. P.'s old friend came 

 to see us ; not by any means an agreeable sur- 

 prise to me, for I dreaded his contempt and re- 

 bukes, and I was still but a wayward and only 

 half-humbled creature. 



"Well !" said he, entering the room, "I believe 

 I was unreasonable in the plan 1 proposed ; so I 

 am come to try if we can do better. But what 

 did you think of it, madam ?" 



