"I am afraid, Godfrey, I have not done you justice, hitherto, in my thoughts.

You are more unselfish--you are a better man than I believed you to be.

Come here when you can, and I will try and repair the wrong I have done you." She gave him her hand.

Alas, for our fallen nature! Alas, for Mr.
Godfrey! He not only forgot himself so far as to kiss her hand--he adopted a gentleness of tone in answering her which, in such a case, was little better than a compromise with sin.

"I will come, dearest," he said, "on condition that we don't speak of this hateful subject again." Never had I seen and heard our Christian Hero to less advantage than on this occasion.
Before another word could be said by anybody, a thundering knock at the street door startled us all.