"
She took his hand in both her own--hesitated--looked at him--and
pressed it to her bosom. "May I ask a favor of you, before you go?"
she said, timidly. He tried to take his hand from her; but she knew her
advantage, and held it fast. "Suppose there should be some change for
the better?" she went on. "Sup pose I could come to Frank, as my fat her
said I should come to him--?"
Before she could complete the question, Mr. Clare made a second effort
and withdrew his hand. "As your father said you should come to him?" he
repeated, looking at her attentively.
"Yes," she replied. "Strange things happen sometimes. If strange things
happen to me will you let Frank come back before the five years are
out?"
What did she mean? Was she clinging desperately to the hope of melting
Michael Vanstone's heart? Mr. Clare could draw no other conclusion from
what she had just said to him. At the beginning of the interview he
would have roughly dispelled her delusion. At the end of the interview
he left her compassionately in possession of it.
"You are hoping against all hope," he said; "but if it gives you
courage, hope on. If this impossible good fortune of yours ever happens,
tell me, and Frank shall come back.
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