“Is it true, Allie? Have you forgiven me?”
“I—was sorry for you long since, even before you were hurt. I never wished ill to you. I came when I heard that you were like to die, so that we might forgive one another—”
Allison had gone almost beyond her power of speech by this time, but he held her fast.
“Oh! Allie, ye micht hae made a good man o’ me, if ye had but had the patience and the will to try.”
But Allison said:
“No, that could never have been. I wasna good myself, and I was dazed with trouble.”
“Ay, poor lassie, ye hae much to forgive. But I will make amends, I will make amends. Yes, in the sight of God and man, I will make full amends.”
Allison could bear no more. Where was it all to end? Surely she was in the net now, and it was drawing close upon her, and she could not bear it. For a moment it came into her mind to flee. But the temptation did not linger long, nor did it return.
In his accustomed place Dickson was waiting.
“Your master requires you,” said Allison, and then she passed on to her refuge among the auld wives, and puir bodies in the wide ward beyond. But it was not a refuge to-day.