'No, no; of course you must go. Oh, my darling, oh, my friend, and she threw herself into the other's arms.
'Of course I will write to you,' said Mrs. Orme. 'I will do so regularly.'
'May God bless you for ever. But it is needless to ask for blessings on such as you. You are blessed.'
'And you too;—if you will turn to Him you will be blessed.'
'Ah me. Well, I can try now. I feel that I can at any rate try.'
'And none who try ever fail. And now, dear, good-bye.'
'Good-bye, my angel. But, Mrs. Orme, I have one word I must first say; a message that I must send to him. Tell him this, that never in my life have I loved any man as well as I have loved him and as I do love him. That on my knees I beg his pardon for the wrong I have done him.'
'But he knows how great has been your goodness to him.'
'When the time came I was not quite a devil to drag him down with me to utter destruction!'
'He will always remember what was your conduct then.'
'But tell him, that though I loved him, and though I loved you with all my heart,—with all my heart, I knew through it all, as I know now, that I was not a fitting friend for him or you. No; do not interrupt me, I always knew it; and though it was so sweet to me to see your faces, I would have kept away; but that he would not have it. I came to him to assist me because he was great and strong, and he took me to his bosom with his kindness, till I destroyed his strength; though his greatness nothing can destroy.'
'No, no; he does not think that you have injured him.'
'But tell him what I say; and tell him that a poor bruised, broken creature, who knows at least her own vileness, will pray for him night and morning. And now good-bye. Of my heart towards you I cannot speak.'
'Good-bye then, and, Lady Mason, never despair. There is always room for hope; and where there is hope there need not be unhappiness.'
Then they parted, and Mrs. Orme went down to her son.
'Mother, the carriage is here,' he said.
'Yes, I heard it. Where is Lucius? Good-bye, Mr. Mason.'
'God bless you, Mrs. Orme. Believe me I know how good you have been to us.'
As she gave him her hand, she spoke a few words to him. 'My last request to you, Mr. Mason, is to beg that you will be tender to your mother.'
'I will do my best, Mrs. Orme.'
'All her sufferings and your own, have come from her great love for you.'
