“Oh, my God! there is not a moment to spare. Good-by, my beloved child. God bless you!” said Alice, straining her daughter to her bosom.
“Oh, mother, don’t you love father dearly? Tell me once more.”
“Yes, yes, Elsie.”
“Oh, mother, if you love him so dearly, get my pardon from him. Tell him how I grieve to be under the necessity of offending him. Get my pardon for me, beloved mother.”
“I will do my very best. God bless you, my darling child! Good-by! Oh, Magnus, be good to her, be merciful, be loving, be tender. Oh, Magnus, I have torn the heart from my bosom and given it to you. Be good to her.”
“May God deal by my soul as I deal by her heart!” said Magnus, folding his mother-in-law in a fervent embrace.
Then they hurried out, hastened into the carriage, the blinds were let down, the doors closed, the whip cracked, and the vehicle rolled away.
CHAPTER XXIII.
“THE HEART OVERTASKED.”
Oh, break, break, heart! poor bankrupt, break at once!
To prison, soul! Ne’er hope for liberty!