o2 THE OSBORNES AND

good to forgive injuries—to return good for evil.
Forgive us, therefore, what you have already suf-
fered from us; I have prayed God to forgive us,
even as I knew you had done, and you will not
close your heart against us. Oh- ” said she,
clasping together her hands, and fixing upon him
her large, sunken, and tearless eyes, “I have
made my child pray to God every night to bless
you; because I thought that the prayers of a
child most surely ascended to heaven! I know,”
continued she more calmly, “that you have very
little reason to trust either Edwards or me; but if
you cast us off, then are we lost for ever! I do not
pretend or attempt to excuse Edwards; but he is
heartily sorry for the past—he has been unfortunate,
we have all suffered much, and we are all humble
now; and from you we ask this one chance of re-
gaining our place in society !”

“Qh stay with us, Phebe,” said Mrs. Osborne,
quite overcome by her sister's words, “‘ stay with us,
and you and your child shall never want.”

“The first letter,” returned Phebe, “which I
received from Mr. Osborne after my marriage, con-
tained these words, ‘atone for your want of duty to
us by your duty to your husband, and so may God
Almighty bless you!’ these words I have never for-
gotten. They have been hitherto, and shall still be,
the law of my life; let my husband's fortune be
what it may, I abide with him to the last.”

“She is right, Sarah, she is right,” said Mr. Os-
borne, wiping his eyes and rising from his seat ; “and
I will be surety for Edwards for her sake. I will
give him this one trial more.”

Poor Phebe, who hitherto had not shed one tear,