"Three whole days," he said. "Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and I had time
to hide the dark deed so securely that it has never been suspected."
Burton started quickly, and glanced at his sister with a look of amazed
inquiry. He had thought of forgery, and theft, and embezzlement, but
never of what his father's words might imply, and the cold sweat began
to froze from the palms of his hands while a kind of nightmare crept
over him, and kept him rooted to the spot as his father went on:
"But, oh! what agony of remorse I have endured! The tortures of the lost
are not more intense than my sufferings have been! Think of my meeting
people day after day with the mark of Cain upon my brow, burning there
so hotly that it seemed as if you must all see it, and know my guilt.
How could I join myself to God's people with this sin unconfessed? I
could not, and yet, I feel in my heart that I am forgiven, washed in His
blood as white as snow, so that there is rest for me in Paradise. Still,
I must confess; I must tell you, my son, and you, my minister; but no
one else--not Grey--no, no, not the boy Grey, who loves me so much.
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