Yet she relented a little from her displeasure as the day for parting
came. She was as fond of him and his boy as her nature would allow.
Sophy had never been otherwise than an object of her jealousy, and now
she positively detested her. But when Mr. Chantrey came on the last
evening to sit an hour or two with her, and she saw, as with
newly-opened eyes, his care-worn face and wearied, feeble frame, her
heart quite melted toward him.
"Remember," she said, eagerly, "you can come back again whenever yon
choose, as soon as you grow sure how useless this mad scheme is. I wish
I could have persuaded you to keep on your living, but yon are too
wilful. You are welcome to draw upon me for funds to return at any time,
and I shall supply them gladly, and give you a home here. If yon find
your expectations fail, promise me to come back."
"And bring Sophy with me?" he asked, with almost a smile.
"No, no," she answered, shrinking involuntarily from the idea of having
her in her house. "Oh, my poor boy! what can yon do?"
"I can only bear the burden sin lays upon me," he said.
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