You understand what you have
done for me,--you and your father? You have saved me by saving
Sigurd,--saved _me_ from being weighed down to hell with the crime of
murder! And you made the boy happy while he lived. All the rest of my
days spent in your service could not pay back the worth of that good
deed. And most heartily do I thank the Lord that he has mercifully
permitted me to tend and comfort you in the hour of trouble--and,
moreover, that He has given me strength to speak and confess my sin and
unworthiness before you ere I depart. For now the trouble is past, I
must remove my shadow from your joy. God bless you!--and--try to think
as kindly as you can of me for--for Sigurd's sake!"
Stooping, she kissed Thelma's hand,--and, before any one had time to
speak a word, she left the room abruptly.
When, in a few minutes, Britta went to look after her, she was gone. She
had departed to her own house in Bosekop, where she obstinately
remained. Nothing would induce her to present herself again before Sir
Philip or Thelma, and it was not till many days after they had left the
Altenfjord that she was once more seen about the village.
Pages:
1026
1027
1028
1029
1030
1031
1032
1033
1034
1035
1036
1037
1038
1039
1040
1041
1042
1043
1044
1045
1046
1047
1048
1049
1050