how bitterly hard it is to bear.'

Stephen answered her only with a low, half-suppressed groan; and then he
sat speechless and motionless, as if his despair had completely paralyzed
him.

'Listen, Stephen,' she continued, with energy: 'you told me once that the
clergyman at Danesford has some paper belonging to you, about the
cottage. You must go to him, and tell him frankly your whole story. I do
not believe that what my uncle has done would stand in law, and I myself,
if it be necessary, would testify that your grandfather could not
understand such a transaction. But perhaps it could be settled without
going to law, if the clergyman at Danesford would take it in hand; for my
uncle is very wishful to keep a good name in the country. But if not,
Stephen Fern, I promise you faithfully that should Fern's Hollow ever
come into my possession, and I be my uncle's only relative, I will
restore it to you as your rightful inheritance.'

She spoke so gravely, yet cheeringly, that a bright hope beamed into
Stephen's mind; and when Miss Anne held out her hand to him, as a pledge
of her promise, she felt a warm tear fall upon it. He rose up from the
ground now, and stood out into the moonlight before her, looking up into
her pale face.

'Stephen,' she said, more solemnly than before, 'do you find it possible
to endure this injury and temptation?'

'I've been praying for the master,' answered Stephen; but there was a
tone of bitterness in his voice, and his face grew gloomy again.