How rich her life had always been in the conviction of usefulness--nay, indispensableness! Her mother's persuasions had dashed it from her.

And religious scruple, for her torment, showed her her past, transformed, alloyed with all sorts of personal prides and cravings, which stood unmasked now in a white light.
And he?
Still near her for a few short hours! Every pulse in her had thrilled as she had passed the house which sheltered him.

But she will see him no more.

And she is glad.

If he had stayed on, he too would have discovered how cheaply they held her--those dear ones of hers for whom she had lived till now! And she might have weakly yielded to his pity what she had refused to his homage.