The man sorrowfully approached the door; on the threshold he paused and imploringly murmured:
"Pardon me, Jane, I did not wish to hurt you."
"I know it. I am sometimes hard and cruel, but my unhappy situation is the cause of it. Why did not the wretched fire consume me? Then all grief would have been at an end. O my God! my God!"
She sobbed as if her heart would break, and Melosan wrung his hands in despair.
"Jane, tell me what has happened," he said, in despair. "I have never seen you this way before. Has any one insulted you?"
"No one," said Jane, softly, "no one."
"Your fate is dreary and burdensome, but you are young and strong. You have life before you, and in time you'll forget the past and be happy."
Melosan's words caused the young girl to dry her tears.
"You are right," she said, half ashamed, "I was foolish and ungrateful. I will forget the past. Forgive me—grief overwhelmed me."