"She nodded gratefully, and said: 'I am just a little exhausted yet, and my limbs feel as if they were broken; but I hope to be able to get up again to-morrow, and look after the household.' "'For heaven's sake, what are you dreaming of?' I cried, horrified. "She sighed. 'I must--I must. It does not let me rest.' "'What does not let you rest?' "She did not answer, and then suddenly she began to weep bitterly. "I calmed her, I kissed the tears from her lashes and cheeks, and implored her to pour out her heart to me. 'Are you not happy? Isn't he good to you?' "'He is as good to me as God's mercy; but I am not happy--I am wretched, sister; so wretched that I cannot describe it to you.' "'And why, in all the world?' "'I am afraid!' "'Of what?' "'That I--make him unhappy; that I am not the right one for him.' "A sudden icy coldness ran through me. It seemed to emanate from her body upon mine. "'You see, you feel it too!' she whispered, and looked up at me with great frightened eyes. "'You are foolish.' I said, and forced myself to laugh; but the chillness did not leave my limbs. A dark suspicion told me that perhaps she might be right. But now it was for me to comfort her! "'However could you give way to such silly self-torture?' I cried. 'Does not his behaviour at all times prove to you how wrong you are?' "'I know, what I know,' she answered, softly; with that obstinacy of endurance which is given as a weapon to the weak. 'And what I am now telling you, does not date from to-day--the fear is years old; I had it in my heart already before I was engaged to him, and I quite well knew at that time why I refused him--for very love!' "'Martha, Martha!' I cried, reproachfully; 'it seems to me that you concealed a great deal from me.'