Part 17 (1/2)
”I am--at least, I was; for I know I am ever so much better than I was when I came here. I ran away from home!”
”Ran away!” exclaimed Mrs. Kent, appalled at the words.
”Yes; and I did even worse than that.”
”Dear me! I hope not. I thought it was strange that a young lady like you should have so much money; but my heart was so full that I didn't think much about it.”
”Mrs. Kent, I stole that money!” added f.a.n.n.y, her face crimson with the blush of shame.
”Mercy on me! I can't believe it.”
”It is true.”
”It was wrong of me to take the money,” added Mrs. Kent, actually trembling with apprehension at the thought. ”I will pay it all back some time, f.a.n.n.y. I can work now. I'm sure I wouldn't have taken the money if I had thought you did not come rightly by it.”
f.a.n.n.y then told the whole story, and described her feelings from the time she had first seen Mrs. Kent in front of the house.
”I am so sorry!” said the poor woman, wringing her hands as she thought of her own partic.i.p.ation in the use of the stolen property. ”I would rather have been turned out of the house than be saved by such money.”
”Don't cry, Mrs. Kent. I am almost sorry I told you anything about it.”
”I'm glad poor Jenny didn't know it.”
”So am I; but I am sure she knew how guilty I had been, though she didn't know exactly what I had done.”
”I think there is hope for you, f.a.n.n.y. You must have a kind heart, or you couldn't have done what you did for Jenny. I'm sure I feel very grateful to you.”
”Now you know me as I am, Mrs. Kent; but I tell you most solemnly, that I mean to be good always after this. I am sorry for my wicked deeds, and I am willing to be punished for what I have done. I shall always bless poor Jenny for saving me from error and sin--if I am saved.”
”What are you going to do, f.a.n.n.y?”
”I am going back to Woodville to-morrow morning. I will give up all the money I have, confess my fault, and let them do with me as they think best.”
”You can tell them I will pay back all the money you spent for me, just as soon as I can.”
”Mr. Grant is very rich, and he will not ask you to do that. He is very kind, too.”
”But I must do it, and I shall have no peace till it is done,”
protested the poor woman. ”I'll tell you what I will do. I will give you a note for the money.”
Mrs. Kent was in earnest. She was sorely troubled by the fact that she had even innocently received any of the stolen money. In the evening she wrote the note, which was made payable to Mr. Grant, and insisted that f.a.n.n.y should take it. They talked of nothing but the guilt of the runaway, though rather of the means of making reparation for the wrong, than of the consequences of the wrong acts. Mrs. Kent was fully convinced that f.a.n.n.y was sincerely penitent; that her intercourse with Jenny had ushered her into a new life. She was even willing to believe, before they retired that night, that it was all for the best; that He who brings good out of evil, would bring a blessing out of the wrong which f.a.n.n.y had done.
The next morning the wanderer bade farewell to Mrs. Kent, and took the train for Woodville.
CHAPTER XI.
PENITENCE AND PARDON.