"Do you remember what we said to each other this morning about

telling our faults?" he asked abruptly, finding that she still

remained immovable. "We spoke lightly perhaps, and you may well

have done so. But for me it was no light promise. I want to make

a confession to you, Love."

This, from him, so unexpectedly apposite, had the effect upon her of

a Providential interposition. "You have to confess something?" she said quickly, and even with

gladness and relief. "You did not expect it? Ah--you thought too highly of me. Now

listen. Put your head there, because I want you to forgive me, and

not to be indignant with me for not telling you before, as perhaps

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I ought to have done." How strange it was! He seemed to be her double. She did not speak,

and Clare went on-"I did not mention it because I was afraid of endangering my chance

of you, darling, the great prize of my life--my Fellowship I call

you. My brother's Fellowship was won at his college, mine at

Talbothays Dairy. Well, I would not risk it. I was going to tell

you a month ago--at the time you agreed to be mine, but I could not;

I thought it might frighten you away from me. I put it off; then I

thought I would tell you yesterday, to give you a chance at least of

escaping me. But I did not. And I did not this morning, when you

proposed our confessing our faults on the landing--the sinner that I

was! But I must, now I see you sitting there so solemnly. I wonder

if you will forgive me?" "O yes! I am sure that--"

"Well, I hope so. But wait a minute. You don't know. To begin at

the beginning. Though I imagine my poor father fears that I am one

of the eternally lost for my doctrines, I am of course, a believer in

good morals, Tess, as much as you. I used to wish to be a teacher of

men, and it was a great disappointment to me when I found I could not

enter the Church. I admired spotlessness, even though I could lay no

claim to it, and hated impurity, as I hope I do now. Whatever one

may think of plenary inspiration, one must heartily subscribe to

these words of Paul: 'Be thou an example--in word, in conversation,

in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.' It is the only

safeguard for us poor human beings. 'Integer vitae,' says a Roman

poet, who is strange company for St Paul-"The man of upright life, from frailties free,

Stands not in need of Moorish spear or bow.




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