It was curious to watch the countenance of Ellen as her aunt read the above. Joy, surprise, and contempt expressed themselves by turn on her beaming face. At the close, she heaved a great sigh of relief, and clasping her hands, said, softly,—
"Aunt told me it was safe to trust in God."
Next to Ellen, Dr. Collins was interested to watch the effect of the letter on Miss Granby. He was pleased to see her slyly wipe a tear from her eye, and then, with something of a struggle between her pride and conviction of duty, she rose, and approaching her pupil, said, with real feeling,—
"I have been grievously mistaken, Ellen; I really believed from your confession that you were guilty. Will you forgive me?"
Ellen caught her hand and kissed it repeatedly, exclaiming, eagerly,—
"I love you now just as well as I did before. I was vexed at first; but I remembered that you couldn't trust me as well as you can Mary, because I used to tell falsehoods, you know."
"I shall always trust you in future, my dear child. You have taught me more than one lesson by your ready forgiveness."
"So that you no longer wonder that her old uncle doats on her," said the doctor, laughing, as he seated his niece on his knee. "But you must pity poor Josey. She had a bitter pill to swallow this morning. It needed all the influence of the lawyer I took with me to induce her to take it."
[CHAPTER XIII.]
LIES OF POLITENESS.