The old grandfather was crouching over
the fire, moaning and laughing by turns; and Stephen was again absent,
rambling upon the snowy uplands.
'And for murderers there is pardon,' said Miss Anne softly.
'Oh, I never thought I wanted pardon,' cried Martha; 'I always felt I'd
done my duty better than any of the girls about here. But I've killed
little Nan; and now I remember how cross I used to be when nobody was
nigh, till she grew quite timmer-some of me. Everybody knows I've
murdered her; and now it doesn't signify how bad I am. I shall never get
over that.'
'Martha,' said Miss Anne, 'you are not so guilty of the child's death as
my uncle, who ought to have had the pit bricked over safely when it was
no longer in use. But you say you never thought you wanted pardon. Surely
you feel your need of it now.'
'But God will never forgive me now,' replied Martha hopelessly; 'I see
how wicked I have been, but the chance is gone by. God will not forgive
me now; nor Stephen.'
'We will not talk about Stephen,' said Miss Anne; 'but I will tell you
about God. When He gave His commandments to mankind that they might obey
them, He proclaimed His own name at the same time.
Pages:
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126