She
tells me you have forgiven her, but can you forgive me?"
John grasped his hand.
"Of course I do," he said heartily. "You did it for her so I have
nothing to forgive. If my poor darling had only plucked up courage and
told me all, the hour we were man and wife, she would have learned how
dearly I loved her, and it would have saved you both many unhappy
years."
Tears of gratitude stood in Harker's eyes, as he returned the handclasp.
"Heaven bless you, John," he murmured. "Not many men would be so
merciful. We will never speak of this again. You will not repent your
generosity."
"What are you going to do?" asked Ashford; struck by something unusual
in the old man's voice.
"I am going back to London," said Harker, smiling grimly, as in
anticipation of a pleasant task. "I have work to do, an account to
settle now--for Lucy and myself. You don't know all yet, John; you don't
know, you never will know, all that Lucy and I have suffered."
He paused as if overcome by his emotion; then continued in trembling
voice:
"We have been slaves all these years, trembling and shrinking under a
villain's nod and frown.
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