“Compel his admiration by your conduct, and love will have its way again. True love, my child, forgives many a deep wound inflicted by the hand of those that are dearest. Now you must go to bed, and let this coming Sunday be the beginning of your new life.” And then the repentant maiden, soothed and comforted, was tucked into bed by the kindly ministrations of a heart that understood and pitied.
In the days that followed, a changed Anne could be seen going about her household duties. Her sad face and down-cast eyes tugged strongly at the heartstrings of the now recovered John as he sat among the men in church.
He tried to steel his heart against her. “No,” he said to himself, “I am not going to be fooled by her again. She can go her way, and I will go mine.”
Nevertheless, his eyes constantly wandered over to where she sat with bent head over her prayer-book.
At the close of the morning prayer, good Chaplain Hunt stood forth, and in simple words told the touching story of the love and forgiveness of the Incarnate God, and then went on to speak of charity, the love that covers all things.
Two large tears rolled down Anne’s cheeks as she listened. The shining drops caught the wandering eye of John, and for some reason he found it hard to swallow the lump in his throat. “All sham, done for effect!” he angrily muttered.
Coming out of church, he was joined by Adam Clotworthy. “Look here, John, haven’t you punished that poor girl long enough? You haven’t spoken to her since August, and now ’tis the first of October. If you do not do something soon, I’ll marry her myself.”
“A pretty bridegroom you would make, with a body like a hogshead set on skewers!”
“That makes no difference when a girl comes to her senses as Anne has. She knows now how to value an honest man’s affections. His looks play but a small part. I saw her looking at you when we were coming out, and if you could have seen that look you would go straight to her, unless you have a block of stone for a heart.”
John had seen the look, but he did not enlighten Adam.