Page:The Fruit of the Tree (Wharton 1907).djvu/424

Rh “Then Christianity and science are agreed.” She rose, and the young rector, with visible reluctance, stood up also.

“That, again, is one of the most striking evidences—” he began; and then, as the necessity of taking leave was forced upon him, he added appealingly: “I understand your uncertainties, your questionings, and I wish I could have made my point clearer"

“Thank you; it is quite clear. The reasons, of course, are different; but the result is exactly the same.”

She held out her hand, smiling sadly on him, and with a sudden return of youth and self-consciousness, he murmured shyly: “I feel for you"—the man in him yearning over her loneliness, though the pastor dared not press his help.…

XXVIII

HAT evening, when Justine took her place at the bedside, and the other two nurses had gone down to supper, Bessy turned her head slightly, resting her eyes on her friend.

The rose-shaded lamp cast a tint of life on her face, and the dark circles of pain made her eyes look deeper and brighter. Justine was almost deceived by the delusive semblance of vitality, and a hope that was half anguish stirred in her. She sat down by the bed, clasping the hand on the sheet. [ 408 ]