CHAPTER XL. A STRANGE INTERVIEW, WHICH IS A SEQUEL TO THE LAST CHAMBER

ngstoaninnocentladylikeyou?—becauseamongthemenIhavetoldyouof,thereisone:themostdesperateamongthemallthatIcan’tleave:no,noteventobesavedfromthelifeIamleadingnow.” “Yourhavinginterferedinthisdearboy’sbehalfbefore,”saidRose“yourcominghere,atsogreatarisk,totellmewhatyouhaveheardyourmanner,whichconvincesmeofthetruthofwhatyousayyourevidentcontrition,andsenseofshameallleadmetobelievethatyoumightyetbereclaimed.Oh!”saidtheearnestgirl,foldingherhandsasthetearscourseddownherface,“donotturnadeafeartotheentreatiesofoneofyourownsexthefirst—thefirst,Idobelieve,whoeverappealedtoyouinthevoiceofpityandcompassion.Dohearmywords,andletmesaveyouyet,forbetterthings.” “Lady,”criedthegirl,sinkingonherknees,“dear,sweet,angellady,youarethefirstthateverblessedmewithsuchwordsasthese,andifIhadheardthemyearsago,theymighthaveturnedmefromalifeofsinandsorrowbutitistoolate,itistoolate!” “Itisnevertoolate,”saidRose,“forpenitenceandatonement.” “Itis,”criedthegirl,writhinginagonyofhermind“Icannotleavehimnow!Icouldnotbehisdeath.” “Whyshouldyoube?”askedRose. “Nothingcouldsavehim,”criedthegirl.“IfItoldotherswhatIhavetoldyou,andledtotheirbeingtaken,hewouldbesuretodie.Heistheboldest,andhasbeensocruel!” “Isitpossible,”criedRose,“thatforsuchamanasthis,youcanresigneveryfuturehope,andthecertaintyofimmediaterescue?Itismadness.” “Idon’tknowwhatitis,”answeredthegirl“Ionlyknowthatitisso,andnotwithmealone,butwithhundredsofothersasbadandwretchedasmyself.Imustgoback.WhetheritisGod’swrathforthewrongIhavedone,IdonotknowbutIamdrawnbacktohimthrougheverysufferingandillusageandIshouldbe,Ibelieve,ifIknewthatIwastodiebyhishandatlast.” “WhatamItodo?”saidRose.“Ishouldnotletyoudepartfrommethus.” “Youshould,lady,andIknowyouwill,”rejoinedthegirl,rising.“YouwillnotstopmygoingbecauseIhavetrustedinyourgoodness,andforcednopromisefromyou,asImighthavedone.” “Ofwhatuse,then,isthecommunicationyouhavemade?”saidRose.“Thismysterymustbeinvestigated,orhowwillitsdisclosuretome,benefitOliver,whomyouareanxioustoserve?” “Youmusthavesomekindgentlemanaboutyouthatwillhearitasasecret,andadviseyouwhattodo,”rejoinedthegirl. “ButwherecanIfindyouagainwhenitisnecessary?”askedRose.“Idonotseektoknowwherethesedreadfulpeoplelive,butwherewillyoubewal