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these thoughts revolved in her mind, her eye was unfortunately attracted by a beautiful piece of silk, belonging to her employer.
Could she not take it, without being seen, and pay for it secretly, when she had earned money enough?
The temptation conquered her in a moment of weakness.
She concealed the silk, and conveyed it to her lodgings.
It was the first thing she had ever stolen, and her remorse was painful.
She would have carried it back, but she dreaded discovery.
She was not sure that her repentance would be met in a spirit of forgiveness.
On the eventful Fourth of July, she came out in her new dress.
Lord Henry complimented her upon her elegant appearance, but she was not happy.
On their way to the gardens, he talked to her in a manner which she did not comprehend.
Perceiving this, he spoke more explicitly.
The guileless young creature stopped, looked in his face with mournful reproach, and burst into tears.
The nobleman took her hand kindly, and said, ‘My dear, are you an innocent girl?’
‘I am, I am,’ she replied, with convulsive sobs.
‘Oh, what have I ever done, or said, that you should ask me such a question?’
The evident sincerity of her words stirred the deep fountains of his better nature.
‘If you are innocent,’ said he, ‘God forbid that I should make you otherwise.
But you accepted my invitations ’
Boston, J. P. Jewett and Company; Cleveland, Ohio: Jewett, Proctor and Worthington; London; Low and Company, 1854.
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