"Sophy," he answered, "you are dreaming Look up, and see me here alive,
beside you Life lies before us yet; for you and me together."
"No" she said, "don't I know it is death to you to be tied to me as you
are? I am a curse to you, and you hate and loathe me, as I do myself.
But we cannot get rid of each other, you and me. Oh! if I could but die,
and set you free!"
"I do not hate you," he answered, tenderly; "you are still very dear to
me. I do not wish to be free from you."
"Then you ought," she cried, with sudden passion; "you ought to hate
that which degrades and shames you. I am dragging you down to ruin; you
and Charlie. Do you think I do not know it? Oh! if I could but die.
Perhaps I may live for many, many years yet; live to be an old woman, a
drunken old wretch! Think what it will be to live for years and years
with a lost creature like me. It is death, and worse than death, for
you."
"But why should you be lost?" he asked; "have you never thought of One
who came to seek and to save that which is lost?"
"Yes; He found me once," she said, in tones of despair, "He found me
once; but I strayed away again, wilfully, in spite of His love, and all
He had done for me.
Pages:
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133