H. B. Marriott Watson

“ It seemed as if I watched her pale, pitiful face and slight body from a great distance. Her soft tones ran murmurously on; but now the trees buzzed in my ears, and the air, thick with flitting Things, shut out the sight of her. The narrow way fled reeling from my vision into the deep valley below.
'I ask no pardon,' I heard her cry, 'but one thing only.'
She lifted her head, and her white face fronted mine with a wild entreaty.
'I have dishonoured you and yours,' she said. 'I have no hope or future in this world. There is one thing only left me. ”

“ I have put away from life all that is best and wisest, all that is most gracious and worthiest; I have thrown immortality to the winds. I am shipwrecked of all save this one thing—the piteous pleasure of a wretched crawling worm. ”

“ Stand to me now in the place of God, who has forsaken me, and give me this one thing. They said you were taken with the fury of devils; they said you were relentless, mad with hate and the desire of vengeance. But you are not. They have spoken false of you,' she cried. 'You are calm and still. You look down upon this thing and despise it—you are so far above it—but you have no grudge against it. You will deal nobly by it. There are no petty passions in your nature. They told me you were sworn to withhold from me freedom, to keep me in the dust. But you will not refuse this thing. ”