"That was funny too! Well, what about it?"
"Nothing. Only, if I dared, I would, some day, remind her of it."
"Do, Victor! Believe me, she will not affect to have forgotten it," said Mr. Lyle, earnestly.
"Ah, but when I think of all I have passed through I dare not ask a beautiful and happy girl to unite her bright life with my blackened one! I dare not," said Hartman, very sadly.
"Nonsense, Victor! You are morbid on that subject. Yours is a nobly redeemed life," said Mr. Lyle, solemnly.
"But—my past!" sighed Victor.
"She had a dark past too poor child! But no more of that. In both your cases
"'Let the dead past bury its dead!
Live—live in the living present,
Heart within and God o'erhead!'
And now it is time to retire, dear Victor. We keep early hours here," said Mr. Lyle, as he reached down the Bible from its shelf, preparatory to commencing evening service.
Then they read the Word together, and offered up their prayers and thanksgivings together, and retired, strengthened.