28 THE OSBORNES AND

beseeching their forgiveness, and saying that as she
knew they desired her happiness, they must allow
her to become happy in her own way, which was by
uniting her fate to that of Edwards. This she had
done, and must now throw herself on their mercy,
assuring them that her future life should prove how
grateful she was for all their former kindness.

A letter like this is at such a time a mockery.
Better by far is it to weep over a child borne to the
grave with all its young fair promise in the bud, than
to see one that we love as our own life running wil-
fully and headlong into ruin spite of all our warning
and our prayers! The Osbornes thought so. Her de-
ceit and disobedience cut them to the heart, and their
prejudices were only the more strengthened against
a match which had begun so badly. Grieved how-
ever as they were, from the bottom of their souls
they pitied her; for they felt sure that a time would
come when she would bitterly repent.

‘* Alas, Phebe,” said good Mr. Osborne’in his reply
to her letter, “ what is this which you have done!
But we will not speak of the sorrow which we fore-
see. May God bless you, though you have grieved
us sorely! You are young, and life lies all before
you; be a good wife; be true to your husband in —
good and in evil ; atone for your want of duty to us
by your duty to him; and so may God Almighty
bless you !”

The Osbornes did not turn their backs on Phebe ;
but remembered her in sorrow rather than in anger ;
and this strong proof of their affection touched her
much more deeply than any evidences of their dis-
pleasure could have done. The match, however,
in a worldly point of view, did not appear so bad.