"
The hard look left her face; though her eyes were still averted from
Jem's gaze, it was more because they were brimming over with tears,
called forth by his words, than because any angry feeling yet
remained. And when his manly voice died away in low pleadings, she
lifted up her hands, and bent down her son's head below the level of
her own; and then she solemnly uttered a blessing.
"God bless thee, Jem, my own dear lad. And may He bless Mary Barton
for thy sake."
Jem's heart leapt up, and from this time hope took the place of fear
in his anticipations with regard to Mary.
"Mother! you show your own true self to Mary, and she'll love you as
dearly as I do."
So with some few smiles, and some few tears, and much earnest
talking, the evening wore away.
"I must be off to see Margaret. Why, it's near ten o'clock! Could
you have thought it? Now don't you stop up for me, mother. You and
Will go to bed, for you've both need of it. I shall be home in an
hour."
Margaret had felt the evening long and lonely; and was all but
giving up the thoughts of Jem's coming that night, when she heard
his step at the door.
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