I was
needlessly harsh with you, and moments of reflection only served to
fasten on me the belief that I had lost all claim to your love, that
you could not forgive me. Yes! I did misjudge you, Madge, I know,
but when I looked back upon the past, and all your faithful love for
me, I saw you as I had ever seen you, the best of sisters, and then
my shameful and ungrateful conduct rose up clearly before me. I felt
so utterly unworthy."
Miss Greylston laid her finger upon her brother's lips. "Nor will I
listen to you blaming yourself so heavily any longer. John, you had
cause to be angry with me; I was unreasonably urgent about the
trees," and she sighed; "I forgot to be gentle and patient; so you
see I am to blame as well as yourself."
"But I forgot even common kindness and courtesy;" he said gravely.
"What demon was in my heart, Margaret, I do not know. Avarice, I am
afraid, was at the bottom of all this, for rich as I am, I somehow
felt very obstinate about running into any more expense or trouble
about the road; and then, you remember, I never could love inanimate
things as you do. But from this time forth I will try--and the
pines"--
"Let the pines go down, my dear brother, I see now how unreasonable
I have been," suddenly interrupted Miss Greylston; "and indeed these
few days past I could not look at them with any pleasure; they only
reminded me of our separation.
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