She did not love Halsey then! she was not married to him! He could conceive of nothing that could have brought that word and tone to Susannah's lips if she were bound.
"Does not duty and reason, does not even mere sanity, call upon you to come back with me, Susannah, and spend your life where you can exercise the gifts God has given you among those who abide by law and order ?" "Perhaps, Ephraim, it is so; but I am too great a coward.

Think of the shame that I should have to endure from my aunt, and all the world would taunt me with my folly and madness.

I think it would kill what little good there is in me.

For although I should be willing to suffer if I have done wrong, yet there would be no use in going where my punishment would be greater than I could bear." He was shocked to think of the days that had elapsed before he had come to her.

She had suffered much before she could speak in this way, and when he saw how mild and sad she was, and, above all, rational, he longed to comfort her as he would comfort a child with caresses and the promise of future joys.