fferent, though I could
hardly have told it now; but, indeed, I never thought of trying to
tell; it was far from my mind to add one iota to the sorrow which I had
caused. The minister went on walking, occasionally stopping to move
things on the table, or articles of furniture, in a sharp, impatient,
meaningless way, then he began again,--

'So young, so pure from the world! how could you go and talk to such a
child, raising hopes, exciting feelings--all to end thus; and best so,
even though I saw her poor piteous face look as it did. I can't forgive
you, Paul; it was more than wrong--it was wicked--to go and repeat that
man's words.'

His back was now to the door, and, in listening to his low angry tones,
he did not hear it slowly open, nor did he see Phillis, standing just
within the room, until he turned round; then he stood still. She must
have been half undressed; but she had covered herself with a dark
winter cloak, which fell in long folds to her white, naked, noiseless
feet. Her face was strangely pale: her eyes heavy in the black circles
round them. She came up to the table very slowly, and leant her hand
upon it, saying mournfully,--

'Father, you must not blame Paul. I could not help hearing a great deal
of what you were saying. He did tell me, and perhaps it would have been
wiser not, dear Paul! But--oh, dear! oh, dear! I am so sick with shame!
He told me out of his kind heart, because he saw--that I was so very
unhappy at his going away. She hung her head, and leant more heavily
than before on her supporting hand.

'I don't understand,' said her father; but he was beginning to
understand. Phillis did not answer till he asked her again. I could
have struck him now for his cruelty; but then I knew all.

'I loved him, father!' she said at length, raising her eyes to the
minister's face. 'Had he ever spoken of love to you? Paul says not!'

'Never.' She let fall her eyes, and drooped more than ever. I almost
thought she would fall.

'I could not have believed it,' said he, in a hard voice, yet sighing
the moment he had spoken. A dead silence for a moment. 'Paul! I was
unjust to you. You deserved blame, but not all that I said.' Then again
a silence. I thought I saw Phillis's white lips moving, but it might
have been the flickering of the candlelight--a moth had flown in
through the open casement, and was fluttering round the flame; I might
have saved it, but I did not care to do so, my heart was too full