"
"Do you feel as confidently as you speak?"
"You shall judge for yourself. I speak from what I have seen in my own
family. Tell me what you think of our household at Frizinghall. Do my
father and mother live unhappily together?"
"Far from it--so far as I can see."
"When my mother was a girl, Rachel (it is no secret in the family), she
had loved as you love--she had given her heart to a man who was unworthy
of her. She married my father, respecting him, admiring him, but nothing
more. Your own eyes have seen the result. Is there no encouragement in
it for you and for me?" *
* See Betteredge's Narrative, chapter viii.
"You won't hurry me, Godfrey?"
"My time shall be yours."
"You won't ask me for more than I can give?"
"My angel! I only ask you to give me yourself."
"Take me!"
In those two words she accepted him!
He had another burst--a burst of unholy rapture this time. He drew her
nearer and nearer to him till her face touched his; and then--No! I
really cannot prevail upon myself to carry this shocking disclosure
any farther. Let me only say, that I tried to close my eyes before it
happened, and that I was just one moment too late.
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