A change of expression came over Sarah's face, and William said, "You're surely not still hankering after him?"
"No, indeed I'm not. But whenever I meets him he somehow gets his way with me. It's terrible to love a man as I love him. I know he don't really care for me—I know he is all you say, and yet I can't help myself. It is better to be honest with you."
William looked puzzled. At the end of a long silence he said, "If it's like that I don't see that we can do anything."
"Have patience, William. Sarah don't know what she's saying. She'll promise not to see him again."
"You're very kind to me. I know I'm very foolish. I promised before not to see him, and I couldn't keep my promise."
"You can stop with us until you get a situation in the country," said
Esther, "where you'll be out of his way."
"I might do that."
"I don't like to part with my money," said William, "if it is to do no one any good." Esther looked at him, and he added, "It is just as Esther wishes, of course; I'm not giving you the money, it is she."
"It is both of us," said Esther; "you'll do what I said, Sarah?"
"Oh, yes, anything you say, Esther," and she flung herself into her friend's arms and wept bitterly.