“We thought you had gone to New Orleans.”
“No, we did not; but how is dear ma, and father and Ellen?”
“All very well; and very happy, after they had heard from you. You are a rich man’s wife now, Lilian, and I hope—”
“Come, Paley, I must look after my luggage,” interposed Tom, who evidently did not care to have me hear what his wife had to say.
I was somewhat astonished to hear Bertha call Lilian a rich man’s wife. I could not fully comprehend it. I suppose from this that Aunt Rachel had actually left me her property, as I had anticipated she would, but the most that I had ever heard her rated at was thirty thousand dollars, and according to the city standard, this would not make a very rich man. I was willing to wait for an explanation, however, and I followed Tom out of the room. We went down to the office, where rooms for the newly married couple were secured near mine. The baggage was sent up, and Tom and I took the parlor for a conference.
“I suppose you are anxious to know how your affairs stand in Boston, Paley,” said my friend.
“I am only anxious to make my peace with God and man,” I replied, earnestly. “I have sinned against God and man. I am a wretch.”
“That’s a fact, Paley; I can’t deny it. But repent and sin no more.”
“Tom, if it were not for my wife, I feel that I should be willing to serve out my term in the State Prison. I feel that I have no right to be exempted from the consequences of my crime; but Lilian would suffer more than I should, if the law were to take its course.”