Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1891 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V. Sheeting. V/TARGARET ELLWOOD, reposing under the hallowed counterpane of her little bedroom, dreamt of Bessie Saunders. She seemed a fresh, buoyant creature, with the radiance of love in her face, and hope playing like a benediction round her head. She was gazing with her large blue eyes across sunlit fields to the little farm on the heights; a soft smile played about her lips. Then suddenly she changed into Sarah Coverdale: the bright face grew drawn and haggard, the smile vanished, the lips seemed thin and tight; she was dressed in a counterpane, emblazoned with red and yellow texts. Her gaze continued to be directed towards Braisted; but now it was over cold wastes of twilight, broad and still, and her eyes were dim and expressionless. They were not sad, but the dreamer, as they met her glance, moaned in her sleep. Next morning Margaret Ellwood took her easel to a ruined cottage in one of the fields; but she sat doing nothing, or idly sketching, for over an hour. It was seldom that she felt undecided, but this problem fairly puzzled her. The old creeds were certainly the simpler: one could so easily follow a fixed rule, and let the consequences of one's act look after themselves. That the act should be righteous was the important point. But to care only for results, and not for righteousness; that was trying indeed, when the question resolved itself into: "Who is to be the sufferer? Why should this or that one be selected for the post of honor?" Some strange freak of Fate had placed the power in her hands, and it was her cruel task to select the victim. If she decided to use her influence, Dick would assuredly do exactly as she desired; this was almost a certainty. Bessie's fate lay at the mercy of a woman of whose very...
