And yet that man, she knew, suspected her of a base and hateful crime.

It was too dreadful! She could not exculpate herself, save by blank denial--and what would that avail?
The large hot drops ran down her cheeks.

She had need of all her strength to prevent sobbing.
She looked round.

In the bright summer evening, all things were full of joy and love.

The hedge-banks were gay as flower gardens; the swifts chased each other, screaming harsh delight; the ring-dove murmured in the wood beneath his world-old song, which she had taught the children a hundred times-- "Curuckity coo, curuck coo; You love me, and I love you!" The woods slept golden in the evening sunlight; and over head brooded, like one great smile of God, the everlasting blue.
"He will right me!" she said.