Joshua nodded, and bent over Basil Kindred. The action disturbed the sleeping man. He seized Joshua's wrist in his burning hand, and said, in a trembling voice, "She died in my arms, and the earth was her bed. The stars were ashamed to look upon her. Well they might be! Well they might be!"
"He is speaking of his wife," said Susan softly to Joshua. "He loved her very dearly, and would have died for her. When she died, his heart almost broke."
Sympathy and devotion made her voice like sweet music. Joshua looked at her with a feeling of wonder, and was amazed at the change that had come over her. An hour ago, she was crouching in drivelling terror, overpowered by absurd fancies; now she moved about cheerfully, strong in her purpose of love. But he had never in all his life seen her as he saw her now. He bade her good-by, and she wished him Godspeed, and kissed him. Minnie accompanied him to the door.
"Good-by, dear little Minnie," he said.
"Good-by," she said, with tears in her voice. "You forgive me, don t you, for what I said this afternoon?"
"Yes, my dear."
"Ah! I like to hear you speak like that; it sounds sweet and good. Say, 'I forgive you, little Minnie.'"
"But I haven't any thing to forgive, now I come to think of it."
"Yes, you have. You say that out of your good nature. You mustn't go away and leave me to think that you are angry with me."
"I am not angry with you, Minnie. After all, what you did, you did through love, and there could not be much wrong in it."