But you
must go straight to the Parsonage. Your marriage-day is Sunday; be sure
you are there by noon. It may be you will not find Sophie there; but she
will leave a gift for you, at any rate, and you must be in time to claim
it."
"But how can I ask Sophie's forgiveness, and the professor, and
Cornelia?"
"Trust wholly in Sophie," returned the other, with an accent of loving
reproof, "never doubt her love and forgiveness. You must make your peace
with the professor as best you can; but perhaps he has found that to
forgive in himself which will enable him to be more charitable to you.
As for Cornelia, she and you must recompense each other for the evil you
have mutually wrought upon each other."
"How recompense each other?" questioned Bressant, in surprise; "it was
not a high nor a true love that we felt for each other; it was a love of
the passions and senses."
"Therefore let it be the work of your lives--a work of penitence and
punishment--to elevate and refine your love, which has been degraded,
until it become worthy of the name of love in its highest sense. You
have lowered each other, and now each must help to raise the other up.
The work can be delegated to no one else."
"But Sophie," murmured Bressant, pressing his hand over his eyes.
Pages:
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391