She struggled against her feelings, brushed away her tears, and stood up so firm and determined, that I felt a new respect for her. It was beautiful to see how the true womanhood that lay at the bottom of her nature roused itself, and asserted its supremacy in that moment of doubt and distress.
"You are a brave girl!" I exclaimed,—"my dear, honest-hearted Jessie!"
"You must not praise me," she said. "I feel so guilty and wicked."
"That is wrong; you should not give way to these morbid feelings."
"Indeed, Aunt Matty, I am not like the same girl I was a few months ago."
I knew whence the change came—I could have given its exact date; but it did not extend back over a period of months—a few weeks had served to bring that unrest and trouble upon the sweet girl. With the coming of Mrs. Dennison all those shadows had crept into the house, gathering silently but surely about every heart, piding those who before had no thought nor wish that was not common to all. I felt, too, that she was preparing the way for deeper and darker troubles, which lingered not far off, only awaiting the command of the arch-magician to approach and wrap us in their folds.
CHAPTER XXX.
MRS. DENNISON GATHERS WILD FLOWERS.
While I was lost in gloomy thoughts which those words had aroused, Jessie turned from my chair and walked slowly up and down the terrace, after a habit she had inherited from her father in any season of doubt or perplexity. At last she came softly back and leaned over me again.