Pagina 1061 di 1118

"My heart at rest! Oh! don't encourage an idea of that sort! You

have, before now, caused such language to be written to me! and

the suffering it caused me! and now you have the heart to tell it

to me! As for me, I declare to you plainly, that I will never set

my heart at rest. Lucy! you have told me to forget you; forget

you! how can I do it? After so many trials! so many promises! Who

have I thought of ever since we parted? Is it because I have

suffered, that you treat me thus? because I have been

unfortunate? because the world has persecuted me? because I have

been so long away from you? because the first moment I was able,

I came to seek you?"

"Oh! holy Virgin!" exclaimed Lucy, as the tears flowed from her

eyes, "come to my help. You have aided me hitherto; aid me now.

Since that night such a moment as this have I never passed."