"Yes, I think I know everything, and you have always had my sincere sympathy. But how did you happen to come here?"
"I wanted to see the old church once more, where I used to worship, and was so happy in the years now gone forever. I did not expect to find any one here, and was greatly surprised when I heard you singing. It was that old hymn which affected me so much, and broke me down completely."
"I am so glad that you came just when you did," Nell replied. "You have been in my thoughts day and night, and I knew that you would come to see me some day. You will come, will you not?"
But Jean shook her head and looked longingly around the church, as if taking a final farewell of all the objects which were so dear and familiar to her.
"I am going away," she quietly said, "and may never be back again."
"Don't say that, Jean," her father implored. "Why should you leave us when we want you so much? Your mother's heart is aching for her little girl."
"I know it, I know it, daddy dear. I have been very bad and cruel to you both. But I have something to wipe out, and I shall never rest content until I have done what I can to atone for my past sad mistake in life."
"Where are you going, Jean?" Nell asked.
"I cannot tell you now. But it is a great work to which I am going, and some day you will be proud of me, and so will the people of Rixton. They scorn me now, and they surely have good reason for doing so."
"But, Jean darling, you will tell us where you are going before you leave, will you not?" her father asked. "You will come home first?"