It would have been no shame or
degradation either for him or her to have laid her in the tranquil
churchyard, beside their little child, where he could have seen her
grave through his vestry window, and gone from it to his pulpit, facing
his congregation, sorrowful but not disgraced. He was just coming back
to his people with higher aims, and greater resolves, determined to
fight more strenuously against every form of evil among them; and this
was the first gigantic sin, which met him on his own threshold and his
own hearth.
"She's so young," pleaded Ann Holland, frightened at the ashy hue that
had spread over his face, "and she's been so lonesome. Then it was
always easy to get it, when she felt low; for Mrs. Bolton's servants
rule the house, and there's the best of everything in her cellars. James
Brown says he could never refuse Mrs. Chantrey, she was so miserable,
poor thing! But now you will take her home; and she'll have you, and
Master Charlie. You'll save her, sir, sooner or later; never fear."
"Let me go and see her," he said, in a choking voice.
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