"As I was unable to go to you, I sent for you, that I may humbly ask your forgiveness for the injustice you have suffered from me. I now acknowledge, what you are probably already aware of, that it was a foolish and false pride which influenced my conduct toward you, when you left my house long ago. It requires reverses of fortune to convince us of the vanity of all earthly things; and reverses have overtaken me, and more than this; my failing health admonishes me that, unless a change for the better soon takes place, my days on earth will soon be numbered. During all the time that has passed since we have met, my mind has never been at rest; for though too proud to acknowledge it, I have ever been sensible that I treated you with cruelty and injustice. But my pride is now humbled and I beg of you to forgive me; for, believe me, I have suffered even more than you." I extended my hand to her, saying,-- "I freely and fully forgive all the past, Mrs. Leighton, and I trust we may be friends for the future." After sitting silent for a few moments, Mrs. Leighton again addressed me, saying,-- "Were it in your power, Clara, would you make me entirely happy?" I replied that certainly I would. She regarded me earnestly as she said,-- "Will you become Willie's wife?" I knew not what reply to make to a question so unexpected. At length I said,-- "Willie has been a long time absent. He may have changed his mind; or, he may be already married." "I will answer for all that," replied Mrs. Leighton. "Willie is here. He arrived two days since, and would have called to see you ere this, but I begged him to defer calling till I had seen you, and acknowledged my former injustice to you; for I am now sensible that I wronged a worthy and noble girl." Remember, kind reader, that, although I had expected never again to meet with Willie Leighton, I still loved him with all the strength of a first love. Before I could frame a reply to the last remark of Mrs. Leighton, the door opened, and Willie, accompanied by his father, entered the room. I pass over our meeting. But Mr. Leighton, soon after, placing my hand in that of Willie, said,--"God bless you, my children; may you be happy." When I returned home that evening, it was Willie not Lewis, who accompanied me. CHAPTER XXII. CLARA'S MARRIAGE. Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until the ensuing spring. I wished not so suddenly to leave my uncle for the long wedding tour which Willie had in contemplation. Laura and Georgania, accompanied by their husbands, came at Christmas to visit their parents. It was indeed a joyful family reunion. We accepted our present happiness, and made no unpleasant allusions to the past. If Georgania retained any of her old ways that were not agreeable, I was too much occupied by my own new-found happiness to be annoyed by them.