"Poor girl," she whispered; "she feels dreadful about her lot. She wishes she had kept silent forever about being Jim's wife and allowed him to free himself, which he could have done very easily."
"But I thought she loved him," said Faith, faintly.
"So she does," was the answer; "but she knows it was wrong for her to marry as she did. She says she knew he did not love her, and felt sure that he would never own her."
"But he does now," said Faith, with a questioning look at the buyer.
"Yes, I believe he has admitted that she is really his wife, but the poor girl has demanded that the marriage be annulled."
Faith looked up eagerly, but she could not frame her question.
"She has been praying, she tells me," said Miss Fairbanks, continuing, "and she says it is her duty to give Jim up, for to live with him would be wicked when he does not love her."
Faith heard only the first words that Miss Fairbanks had spoken. Poor Maggie had been praying; then her heart was softened.
"She is out, you know, and free as air," continued Miss Fairbanks, "but she is not coming back to the store. Mr. Denton has made her an allowance."
"And you, Miss Fairbanks?" asked Faith, very softly. "Are you praying, too, or is it not yet the Lord's time? I am anxious for you to be happy in the 'light of His countenance.'"