Don't tear it, and tread it under foot."
She clung to him, sobbing violently, her face buried in his hands.
"Hush, hush! It's all well,--it's all well. Here, sit by me. So. I
have--" His voice failed him, and he paused. But sitting by
him,--clinging to him,--her face hidden in his bosom,--she heard the
strong beating of his disenchanted heart.
"My child, I know your meaning. I will not tear the letter to pieces
and trample it under foot. God forgive me my life's slight to those
words. But I learned their value last night, in the house where your
blank letter had entered before me."
She started, and looked into his face steadfastly, while a bright
scarlet shot into her own.
"I know all, Netty,--all. Your secret was well kept, but it is yours
and mine now. It was well done, darling, well done. O, I have been
through strange mysteries of thought and life since that starving woman
sat here! Well--thank God!"
"Father, what have you done?" The flush had failed, but a glad color
still brightened her face, while the tears stood trembling in her eyes.
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