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had handed him over to the charge of a bright…eyed Western girl； to
whom the whole story had been told； and who showed herself ready
and anxious to help in building up again the broken life of her
English lover。 To judge from the letters that we have since
received； she has shown herself well fitted for the task。 Among
other things she has money； and Jack's worldly affairs have so
prospered that George declares that he can well afford now to waste
some of his superfluous cash upon farming a few of his elder
brother's acres。 The idea seems to smile upon Jack； and I have
every hope this winter of being able to institute an actual
comparison between our small boy； his namesake； and his own three…
year…old Alan。 The comparison； by the way； will have to be
conditional； for Jacketthe name by which my son and heir is
familiarly knownis but a little more than two。
I turn my eyes for a moment； and they fall upon the northern corner
of the East Room； which shows round the edge of the house。 Then
the skeleton leaps from the cupboard of my memory； the icy hand
which lies ever near my soul grips it suddenly with a chill
shudder。 Not for nothing was that wretched woman's life interwoven
with my own； if only for an hour； not for nothing did my spirit
harbor a conflict and an agony； which； thank God； are far from its
own story。 Though Margaret Mervyn's dagger failed to pierce my
flesh； the wound in my soul may never wholly be healed。 I know
that that is so； and yet as I turn to start through the sunshine to
the cedar shade and its laughing occupants； I whisper to myself
with fervent conviction； 〃It was worth it。〃
End