'
'If you were wealthy,' he replied--
'Wealthy! I am rich--rich,' I interrupted him. 'Look!' (with this I
opened the casket, and run my fingers through the glittering contents,
like a miser through his coin.) 'Tell me what wealth can do, and these
shall do it. To gain these she has imperiled life. Let them restore it
if they can.'
I saw suspicion on his countenance. 'It is false,' I exclaimed, 'false!
I tell you she is as pure as heaven. It was for me that she earned all
these.' And I dashed them on the floor and ground them under my feet.
He seized me and was weeping. 'You are mad,' he said. 'I believe you.
Now I understand all. Do not delay. Take her to Italy, and may Heaven
preserve her to you.'
In a week's time we were on our voyage, accompanied by the children and
the physician--the latter professing to Evelyn that he desired to make
the tour of Europe. My own apology for the voyage was a wish to complete
the tour previously interrupted.
The passage was long and tedious. Before reaching our destination my
hopes of Evelyn's recovery had vanished. Her demeanor was so gentle,
childlike and affectionate, my heart was wrung with anguish. I could not
break her sweet serenity by disclosing the fate which was impending.
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