I now know that they were wrong, and I will endeavour to teach myself another happiness." "Rebecca, if I have been in fault--" "You have never been in fault.

You are by nature too stern to fall into such faults.

It has been my misfortune--perhaps rather I should say my difficulty--that till of late you have given me no sign by which I could foresee my lot.

I was still young, and I still believed what they told me, even though you did not come to me as lovers come.

Now I know it all; and as any such thoughts--or wishes, if you will--as those I used to have can never return to me, I may perhaps be felt by you to be free to use what liberty of counsel old friendship may give me.