Page:Salem - a tale of the seventeenth century (IA taleseventeenth00derbrich).pdf/321

 father, tremblingly, "if only this precious one, so long and so vainly sought, is spared to me; but we have each of us much to explain."

And Alice was spared to them—but not till a long and dangerous illness had resulted from the unnatural strain of mind and body which the poor girl had undergone did they dare to hope; and while hovering in united care and anxiety over their mutual treasure, the two watchers learned each other's mutual worth—and if they could never forget the heart sorrow they had each suffered and occasioned, at least they learned to forgive and respect.