But this was not so. She was attempting in these few moments to mould her scheme into a form which could not fail. She threw out a sentence in order that she might feel her way. She watched him keenly as she spoke.
“How long have you been here, then?” she inquired, carelessly.
“Two years,” he answered, with a sigh.
“Two years of prison life—of earnest ministrations! Oh! sir, how many hearts have you moved by your eloquence? Had I not met you, I might have been lost. You so good, so noble—”
“Hush, do not indulge in laudation,” he said, interrupting her.
“But I must when I speak of you,” said she, leaning her head forward till her cheek almost touched his. “Without you my life here would have been insupportable, and the future,” she added, with bitterness, and bursting into tears—“I dread to think of the future.”
“Ah!” he ejaculated; “that is a sad reflection.”
“Oh, sir,” she said, in a tone which seemed to find its way to his heart, “what a terrible position I am in! I behold exposure, ignominy, and disgrace before me. My poor mother will break her heart when she learns what I am charged with.”
“Does she not know it already?” he inquired, in some surprise.
“No—oh, dear, no! My uncle thought it best to keep it from her. It may be that the charge against me will not be substantiated, and in that case she will be spared the infliction of knowing her daughter has been an inmate of a prison. I cannot tell you—words are altogether inadequate to express the miserable state of hopeless despair I am in. Think of a respectable family being disgraced—think of the odium and obloquy that must necessarily fall upon me even under the most favourable circumstances. I have not before spoken of my own deep, deep sorrow—my abject despair. I have not pained you by a recital of all my agonising thoughts, because I thought it selfish to do so; but oh, sir, you behold in me one of the most wretched and miserable creatures you have ever met with. At night I think of these things—by day I strive by prayer and penitence to cast aside the heavy shadow which has fallen over me. I ask for mercy—I pray to be relieved from this miserable thraldom.”