Of course, it must be done very delicately.
But where is the child now? and when did you find her?"
"If you please, Mr. Burroughs, I should like to tell the story first
to Mrs. Legrange, and I should like to tell her all myself. It was I
that hurt her, or helped to hurt her; and I'd like to be the one to
give her the great joy that's waiting for her. Besides, sir," and
Teddy's face grew white again, "though I did what was wrong enough,
I never deny, I have suffered for it more, maybe, than you can think
of; and this is all the amends I could ever want. Mrs. Legrange has
been very good to me, sir, and never blamed me, or spoke an unkind
word, even at the first."
"And I spoke a good many, you're thinking," said Mr. Burroughs
keenly. "Well, Teddy, I am a man, and Mrs. Legrange is a woman; and
women look at matters more leniently and less exactly than we do.
But you must not be satisfied with pity instead of justice; for that
will be to encourage your self-esteem at the expense of your
manhood. I do not deny that I never have recovered from my surprise
at finding you had so long deceived me; but the news you bring to--
day makes amends for much: and, after I have heard the particulars,
I may yet be able to forget the past, and feel to you as I used.
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