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124 "There are some who hint that it is trouble of mind that is affecting him," said he, "some great trouble: that he took some bond or promise, or something of that sort upon him, some obligation which he did not rightly understand in time. And then, when he understood what he had done, instead of making any effort to free himself, that he just fell into despair altogether."

Mary was silent; she did not pretend to notice anything in her father's words; but she was very much astonished.

"Surely it cannot be," said she to herself, "that the widow has let out the secret!"

"I should think," said John, "that if there were anything of that sort on his mind he would have told it to you that day, though certainly he gave himself very little time to tell you much at all."

"Indeed I should think so too," said she, indifferently. "I suppose," she went on, "that if there had been anything of that sort troubling him, he would have given himself time to tell it, and since he didn't give himself time, that it is a pretty sure sign that there wasn't." She had a stocking of her father's in her hand, and she was darning it, and vou would think, to look at her, that her mind was more intent upon the stocking than upon the talk.

It was John's turn to be astonished then. "He never told it to her!" he said to himself. "Well, I suppose you are right," he said to her. "If it had been troubling him, he would have given himself time to tell it."

"Here," said she. "Put this on now, and let me see if it will hurt you."

—Upon my word it was well for her that