Now, are you
struggling to resist the little temptations that come to you day by day?
Are you striving to make the very best of yourself, Becky?"
I knew how easily I could move Rebecca, either to laughter or tears, so I
was not surprised to see her lip tremble, and her eyes fill; but I was
surprised at the look of intense anguish, almost of horror, that came
into her face. I had not supposed that she was capable of such strong
emotion, and I marvelled greatly, what could be the cause.
"Oh," she said; "you don't know, teacher, you don't know! It never seemed
so bad before I knew you. I was different brought up from you, and I
loved you, and when I knew, oh, then I could die, but I couldn't tell
you! Oh, you wouldn't kiss me again, ever, if you knew; and I wish you
wouldn't, for it hurts, it hurts worse than if you didn't!"
Rebecca had turned very pale, and drew her breath in long gasping sobs.
"Baby!" I said reassuringly, stroking her hair; "I don't believe you have
done anything very wrong." But Rebecca drew away from me.
"You don't know," she said. "I was brought up different--and it was
before you came, and I never knew that, what you told me about not
trusting people.
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