"
The child rose, and advancing towards Peg, took her large hand in
(sic) her's and said, "I forgive you, Peg."
"From your heart?"
"With all my heart."
"Thank you, child. I feel better now. There have been times when I
thought I should like to lead a better life."
"It is not too late now, Peg."
Peg shook her head.
"Who will trust me after I have come from here?"
"I will," said Mrs. Clifton, speaking for the first time.
"You will?"
"Yes."
"And yet you have much to forgive. But it was not my plan to steal
your daughter from you. I was poor, and money tempted me."
"Who could have had an interest in doing me this cruel wrong?"
"One whom you know well,--Mr. John Somerville."
"Surely, you are wrong!" exclaimed Mrs. Clifton, in unbounded
astonishment. "It cannot be. What object could he have had?"
"Can you think of none?" queried Peg, looking at her shrewdly.
Mrs. Clifton changed color. "Perhaps so," she said. "Go on."
Peg told the whole story, so circumstantially, that there was no
room left for doubt.
"I did not believe him capable of such wickedness," she ejaculated.
"It was a base, unmanly revenge. How could you lend yourself to it?"
"How could I?" repeated Peg. "Madam, you are rich. You have always
had whatever wealth could procure. How can you understand the
temptations of the poor? When want and hunger stare us in the face,
we have not the strength to resist that you have in your luxurious
homes.
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