"
"You thought he would return my love in time and that we would
ultimately be happy together, and with this hope you made your
sacrifice did you?" she questioned eagerly.
"I did, my darling little friend! I would not come between you and
your life's projects, for all the world," I answered, clasping her
wasted form in my strong, loving embrace. "I would have been well
repaid, when I saw you happy with my help."
She leaned her head upon my shoulder and wept in silence for a moment.
I would have checked her, but there were sobs in my own voice, and
water in my eyes. At last when I had calmed myself a little, I stroked
her hair kindly and consolingly, entreating her to be quiet and
composed. "You shall harm yourself, with crying, and they will blame
me" I urged, "so cheer up like a good little woman, and be yourself
again."
She looked up quickly, as I spoke, the fresh tears trembled on her
lids, like dew upon the petals of some woodland flower, but a smile,
as bright as the sun-ray that dispels the dew-drop broke over her wan
and wasted countenance, as she answered:
"Blame _you_! Oh Amey I have never been so happy, as with you. You
have been more than a sister to me, you have done for me what no one
else in the world would have thought of doing for another but Amey
Hampden!"
"It has brought you no benefit, my little woman" I said regretfully,
"although I believed your happiness was partly in my hands at the
time.
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