"Well, and I suppose you think that shows conclusively that he never cared anything for you—-but it doesn't. Jasper's as steady and faithful as the sun, and if you had married him he would have been a loyal husband to his dying day. But you wouldn't. At least that's my explanation of matters; I know he went down to Norcross on business, and came home looking as if he had buried all his friends. He acknowledged he had seen you, and it didn't take me long to figure out the matter— and, Sara Olmstead, I will own I was disappointed in you—dreadfully disappointed! He met Bertha right here at my house—happened in one day when she was here on an errand—and she said something pleasant about you. That caught his attention, and I really believe, for a while, he sought that girl out just to hear her praises of you; and if it has grown to be something different with time, you ought to be the last one to blame him."
"Blame him? My dear Miss Prue, I think it's the nicest thing in the world—only, I came down here, you know, on purpose to win your forgiveness, and I'm not willing to go back without it."
"Oh, of course you'll get it—you know that—but I've got to go and plan out a whole new will, for I had determined to leave everything equally divided between you and Jasper which I can't do now without splitting everything in two, so"—
"I'm to be cut off with a shilling?" gayly; "but I won't complain, if you'll only continue to give me your love—ah! dear Miss Prue, I am mercenary in one way, only—I do want all the affection I can beg or borrow!"
For answer, the elder maiden took the younger in her arms and gave her a most tender kiss—so peace was made, and the ambassador who had failed to bring about the nuptials so ardently desired was at last propitiated.
This time it was old Adam Standish who rowed Sara over the bay to Norcross,—Adam, unchanged in lineament or costume,—while faithful friends, as before, watched from the beach. Again she looked back with tear-dimmed eyes; for tender memories of father, mother, baby-brother, and all childhood's associations, tugged at her heart-strings—but there was now no dread and fear to paralyze her.
She faced an uncertain future, it is true, but one bounded by tenderness and care, whose horizon-line glowed before her with rosy visions, which stretched away in glad promise to the infinite deeps of Heaven!