Anna Lombard, page 229 by Victoria Cross
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upon you, too. But it is only one little trial more, one sorrow to bear for a time, for I feel God means you to be happy. As for me, I deserve nothing; but he will forgive me, perhaps, for your sake, and let me be at last an instrumeul of happiness to you; but it can not be just yet. Leave me to suffer a little while. Be patient, just a little white longer."
I looked down at her; at the emaciation of the figure IL its close, black dress; at the fragility of the hand which I held in mine; at the white transparency of the face; at the eyes that were dry now, worn out with excessive weeping.
"Anna, I can't leave you like this!" I exclaimed. "More suffering, more sorrow, and you will go from me altogether."
She shook her head, and a little smile that was full of power came into her face.
"No, I think not. I shall try to live, to 4o better than I have done. Only leave me to myself."
"But for how long?" I asked, desperately.
"I think it should be a year," she said in a low tone and with downcast eyes.
I groaned.
"A year! Exile for a year! But why Anna, it s absurd!"
"If I should feel I were forgiven sooner, I would write to you," she answered in a low voice. "But oh, Gerald! don't make it harder for me than it is!" she cried, suddenly, with a rush of tears. "Help me to do something which I think is right. Think what I am, what I have done."
"Dear child, your will is mine. It has always been, you know. Tell me when you wish me to go and when to return and it shall be so."
She was leaning back against me, exhausted.
"Go to-morrow," she whispered, faintly, "and come back when I send to you,"
"It will seem so strange," I murmured, mechanically. "What will every one say to see you alone, and I "
A ghost of a mocking smile came to her lips and eyes.
"Have we ever cared what they said?" she whispered.
And the following day I went into exile. These things are easy to arrange when one is in high places and money is a