220 TEE STRAWBERRY GARDEN. 



u And you will forgive me ? " 



" Edward, you know I will. I never doubted you an 

 instant." 



" What you say makes me the more sad. I doubted 

 myself. Remember iny mother, and her wretched teach- 

 ings. She it was, who, hearing the distorted stories of your 

 doings, made me believe it were dishonorable to work with 

 one's hands. In my vanity, I associated debasement and 

 loss of all that is best in a young lady, with the idea of her 

 being at work like a common laborer." 



' ' And you failed to see that 



" ' Where love's the cause, 

 The meanest work's divine.'" 



" I did, and cannot cease to blame myself." 

 She placed her hand on his mouth, and said : 

 "It is more blessed to forgive than be forgiven. Now 

 tell me how it happened that you ran away, and never 

 sent me a single line for all those long months, and then let 

 me tell you a fable." 



" I was called away to New York, then sailed for South 

 America very suddenly on business. I did write to you, 

 and gave the note to your brother. As for further cor- 

 respondence, another time I will tell the long and dreary 

 story. The accident which cost me my arm, and the two 

 occasions when I was ill, explain in part. The rest an- 

 other time. The fable, please." 



