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           Herpoormothershouldhaveheardyou;itwouldhavemadeherheartglad!"Thenashadowsweptacrosshisface;andhewentonmorehurriedly.

           "Butareyouquitesureofallthis?"

           "Iknowmyownheart,sir;or,atleast,IthinkIdo!"

           "No!no!"heanswered,"Idon’tmeanyou.Thatisallright!Butyouspokeofmygirl’saffectionforme...andyet...!Andyetshehasbeenlivinghere,inmyhouse,awholeyear...Still,shespoketoyouofherloneliness—herdesolation.Inever—itgrievesmetosayit,butitistrue—Ineversawsignofsuchaffectiontowardsmyselfinalltheyear!..."Hisvoicetrembledawayintosad,reminiscentintrospection.

           "Then,sir,"Isaid,"Ihavebeenprivilegedtoseemoreinafewdaysthanyouinherwholelifetime!"Mywordsseemedtocallhimupfromhimself;andIthoughtthatitwaswithpleasureaswellassurprisethathesaid:

           "Ihadnoideaofit.Ithoughtthatshewasindifferenttome.Thatwhatseemedliketheneglectofheryouthwasrevengingitselfonme.Thatshewascoldofheart....Itisajoyunspeakabletomethathermother’sdaughterlovesmetoo!"Unconsciouslyhesankbackuponhispillow,lostinmemoriesofthepast.

           Howhemusthavelovedhermother!Itwastheloveofhermother’schild,ratherthantheloveofhisowndaughter,thatappealedtohim.Myheartwentouttohiminagreatwaveofsympathyandkindliness.Ibegantounderstand.