The girl started as she met him, and turned pale at the sight of his face.

He could not speak to her, but he pointed to the study door.

He saw her go into the room, and then left the house.
He never entered it more, and he and his wife never met again.
Later on that last day, a sister of Mr.Carling's--a married woman living in the town--came to the rectory.

She brought an open note with her, addressed to the unhappy mistress of the house.

It contained these few lines, blotted and stained with tears: May God grant us both the time for repentance! If I had loved you less, I might have trusted myself to see you again.