Kilmeny of the Orchard

Thomas, help me up. Since she winna come to me I must e’en go to her.’

“ There was no crossing him — we saw that. He got up from his deathbed and Thomas helped him out into the hall and up the stair. I walked behind with the candle. Oh, Master, I’ll never forget it — the awful shadows and the storm wind wailing outside, and father’s gasping breath. But we got him to Margaret’s room and he stood before her, trembling, with his white hairs falling about his sunken face. And he prayed Margaret to forgive him —— to forgive him and speak just one word to him before he went to meet her mother. Master” — Janet’s voice rose almost to a shriek —— “ she would not — she would not! And yet she wanted to speak — afterwards she con- fessed to me that she wanted to speak. But her stubbornness wouldn’t let her. It was like some evil power that had gripped hold of her and wouldn’t let go. Father might as well have pleaded with

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