human
You do not come to upbraid me, Jacob, I am sure, said she, in a melancholy voice;
gpt
No, no, Mary; I come to comfort you, if possible.
human
That is not possible. Look at me, Jacob. Is there not a worm--a canker--that gnaws within?
gpt
Mary, said I,
human
Yes, yes, sobbed Mary,
gpt
I deserve all I suffer; and I bow in humility. But am I not too much punished, Jacob? Not that I would repine; but is it not too much for me to bear, when I think that I am the destroyer of one who loved me so?
human
You have not been the destroyer, Mary.
gpt
Yes, yes; my heart tells me that I have.
human
But--I tell you that you have not. Say, Mary, dreadful as the punishment has been, would you not kiss the rod with thankfulness, if it cured you of your unfortunate disposition, and prepared you to make a good wife?
gpt
That it has cured me, Jacob, I can safely assert; but it has also killed me as well as him. But I wish not to live; and I trust, in a few short months, to repose by his side.
human
I hope you will have your wish, Mary, very soon, but not in death.
gpt
Merciful heavens! what do you mean, Jacob?
human
I said you were not the destroyer of poor Tom--you have not been; he has not _yet_ suffered; there was an informality, which has induced them to revise the sentence.
gpt
Jacob, replied Mary,
human
continued she, bursting into tears;
gpt
Mary, Mary, listen to me.
human
Leave me, leave me,
gpt
No, Mary, not until I tell you that Tom is not only alive, but-- pardoned.
human
Pardoned!
gpt
Yes, pardoned, Mary--free, Mary--and in a few minutes will be in your arms.