He did not reply at once, however, but said to Jack, in a low tone:
“Jack, you know what I have been—can I ever become worthy of her?”
And Jack answered, promptly:
“God bless you, Tom, you are worthy now!”
“Thank you, Jack—if you believe!”
Then he went over to Fanny.
“I will go,” was all he said.
It was a great wonder to both Jack and his sister how Tom could have got ready for the journey on so short a notice; but one day, more than a year afterward, Tom said to Jack:
“Old friend, I’m not what I was, I hope. Ever since I first saw Fanny on the road to Ten Mile Gulch, I have tried to live differently. I hope I am better, for she said last night that she would take me for better or worse.”
And Jack wondered no more.