It Is Never Too Late to Mend

mind he was already separated from it; his clothes were ready, he had nothing more to do, and he wished he could fling himself this moment into the ship and hide h

m that tardy consolation which often comes to the hone

ir eyes, a sense of his value flashes like lightning across their half-empty skulls and tepid hearts, they feel and express some respect and regret, and make him sadder to leave th

in with a message from a fa

ou'll walk up as fur as his farm; he's afeared to come down our hill, a says, because if he did, his mare 'ud kick his gig into t

bag, boy, and I'll f

her name on a bit of paper tied round the neck, to remind poor George he was not forgotten

ther William, and said to him, "Wilham,

eorge,

village church. William wondered George did not speak. They passed under the yewtree into the churchyard. William's heart fluttered. They found the vicar's cow browsing on the graves. William took up a stone. George put out his hand not to let him hurt her, and George turned her gentl

ng of

the two men-and sile

re to him; doubtless that which he had come to say, but apparently it was too much for him. I think he feared his own resolution. He gasped and with a

eplied George, rather

the house they found se

er, was there; he had made them wheel h

is aspect was stony and impassible, and he was all but impervious to passing events; his thin blood had almost ceased to circulate in his

ld Merton was also there, and he was one of t

nkind to you to-day of all days in the year;

e," faltered George; "w

er father's conciliatory words; she seemed composed,

am, but he is going, he is really going. Oh! don't let him

shall not marry a bankrupt farmer, but you bring home a thousand pounds-just one thousand pound

ws ex

George, with ardor; "your hand on

gave George h

san, "your words are se

our sake I leave you, my darling Susan-to be a better man for your sake. Uncle, since

my sister's son hadn't leave to speak his

o it will.

m to the spot. An old man, with a long beard and a glittering eye, was among them before they were awar

n the midst. "No!!" repe

hat "No" meant; a veto upon al

es see deeper than yours (and he sent an eye-stab at Meadows); you are honest-all men say so-I will lend y

ss you," cried

ng Meadows was

o me," cried Susan. "It is

e intruder, and his own evil star that

t," thought he, and despair b

was all joy and hope; Will

ne to another, read them a

eorge Fielding he met with som

able, like a statue of a man, and when he opened his li

chance of paying is next door to stealing; and I should never pay you. My eyes are opened in spite of my heart. I can't farm 'The Grove' with no grass, and wheat at fo

"I'm thinking of when we were boys, and used to play marb

s for me. Show it to my brother whe

g heart give way, as it will. Ah, me! I can pity the wanderer fr

e, and made him a s

her promise to be prudent, then he

ed half-contemptuous look that stole over George's face, suspected that his e

said hastily, "I'll go along with you, farmer," and in a moment was by Merton's side, as that worthy stopped to o

ss as I could choose of what I have to

, but inwardly he cursed his uneasy folly in staying here, inste

ent; and there was something in his man

urned hot

Meadows!" said he, syllable by syllabl

" said William,

" (Some rustics were encr

u please; this is

quite away, seated himself on

e said, however, to himself, "It is abo

you, but I was ashamed, now that's the truth; but now I am

, Ge

a fancy-to my

ke gravely and calmly like common words, William gave one startled look al

d loudly, "How can you be so silly, George! I

ention to William b

owered her eyes to the ground. It was a very painful situat

ass, Will, and no other man's. It is three years since she said the word. And though it was my hard luck there should be s

illiam. "That is a word I ne

is eye swept lightly over both the men. "Anyway, it shan't be a mistake or a misunderstanding; i

orge. Take my ring and my promise, George." And she put her ring on his little finger and kissed his hand. "While you are true to me, nothing but death shall part us twain. There never was any coolness between us, dear; you only thought so. You don't know wh

r whole soul-with blushes and tears and all the fire of a chaste and passionate woman's heart. And she clung to her love; and her tender bosom heaved against h

urned as pale as ashes, and

, William?"

m in an iron whisper, with his s

, and came betwee

he, rather loud, "he

am wi

ointed to Susan. "Let no man rob me

rrow. And this was why George had taken him to t

seen to rise inch by inch till

y the red blight fall on my arm and my heart, if I or any man takes her from you-any man!" he cried, his temples flushing and

thrown. That is always to every man a close, a deadly, a bitter struggle; and we must all wade through

re. He came to William, "I believe you," said he; "I trust you, I thank you." Then he held out his hand; but nature would have more than that, in a moment his arm was round his brother's neck, where it

ten by moist eyes, stamped by the grip of eloquent hands, in those moments

William, "Yes, I will now," and then he went

rge, "I feel strong eno

s if to bid them farewell; and last, while every eye watched

ng journey, and mayhap shall never see y

an came to him. "Grandfather, speak to Georg

grandfather looked up for a moment. "George,

; he was not to have a word o

ded, "I wanted him to say God bless you, but snuff is all his thought

here was something on foot, had the curiosity to come out to the end of his chain, and as he stood there, giving ev

e partridges again, Carlo. The dog shows more understanding than the Christian.

ook of George, but he s

d-by, churchyard, where my mother lies; there will be no church bells, S

uth when a very painful circumstance occurred; one of those things that seem the contriva

led. "Are they mocking me?" he cried. "Do they take a thou

"don't think it, George; I

t's

nd Esther Borgherst married to-day. Only they

arried to-day; and what are George and Susan doing to-day? God help me! Oh, God help me! What shall I do? what shall I

on't think to go; have pity on us both, and don't go." And she clung to him-her bon

that moment he could have cursed the whole creation. He tried to fly, b

y folk with one pocket-handkerchief; and then they kissed one another in turn, and made ea

alings convulsively-

m!" said William to himse

by a voice that seemed to come from another world-it was Grandfa

ounded by its recoil. And old age, callous to noble pain, all alive to discomfort, yet man to the last-blaming any one but Number One, cackling against heavenly bodies, accusi

e first to re

Susan to his bosom, and pressed a

. George, with a wild, half-terrified

see I have no more m

ssed his lips to her, as if they would grow there.

our brother's hand, m

e gave a cry that seemed to tear his h

am, and stretched out both her hands for George.

muttered William hasti

thought, was only going for a walk. Susan was si

gentle William; "pray

the answer; her sense

this. Carlo was more than a dog to poor George at that cruel moment. Soon after that, George and Carlo reached the crown of the hill. George's figure stood alone a moment between them and the sky. He was se