What mysteries there
were in the human spirit--mysteries to which that knowledge of mankind
on which he prided himself gave him no key!
"What if I were laid on my back to-morrow for life, by a fall, a blow,
as I have seen many a better man than me;--should I not wish to have
one to talk to me, as she was talking to that child?" And for a moment
a yearning after Grace came over him, as it had done before, and swept
from his mind the dark cloud of suspicion.
"Now I must talk with your mother," said he; "for you have better
company than mine; and I hear her just coming in."
He settled little matters for his patient's comfort with the farmer's
wife. When he returned to bid her good-bye Grace was gone.
"I hope I have not driven her away."
"Oh no; she had been here an hour, and she must go back now, to get
her mother's supper."
"That is a good girl," said Tom, looking after her as she went down
the field.
"She's an angel from heaven, sir. Not a three days go over without
her walking up here all this way after her work, to comfort my poor
maid--and all of us as well. It's like the dew of heaven upon us.
Pity, sir, you didn't see her home."
"I should have liked it well enough; but folks might talk, if two
young people were seen walking together Sunday evening."
"Oh, sir, they know her too well by now, for miles round: and you too,
sir, I'll make bold to say."
"Well, at least I'll go after her.
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