I shall never
forget,' and the showing of a tiny book in his waistcoat pocket.
When the two had disappeared, Emily, no longer restraining her
tears, told me that she had exchanged Prayer-books with him, and
they were to read the Psalms at the same time every day. 'I thought
it might be a help to him,' she said simply.
Nor was there any consciousness in her talk as she related to me
what he had told her about his mother and sisters, and his dreary
sense of piteous loneliness, till we had adopted him as a brother--
in which capacity I trusted that she viewed him.
However, Clarence had been the recipient of all the poor lad's
fervent feelings for Miss Winslow, how she had been a new revelation
to his desolate spirit, and was to be the guiding star of his life,
etc., etc., all from the bottom of his heart, though he durst not
dream of requital, and was to live, not on hope, but on memory of
the angelic kindness of these three weeks.
It was impossible not to be touched, though we strove to be worldly
wise old bachelors, and assured one another that the best and most
probable thing that could happen to Lawrence Frith would be to have
his dream blown away by the Atlantic breezes, and be left open to
the charms of some Chinese merchant's daughter.
CHAPTER XXXVIII--TOO LATE
'Thus Esau-like, our Father's blessing miss,
Then wash with fruitless tears our faded crown.
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