'The marriage that takes place to-day,' said Caleb,
'is with a stern, sordid, grinding man. A hard master
to you and me, my dear, for many years. Ugly in
his looks, and in his nature. Cold and callous always.
Unlike what I have painted him to you in every-
thing, my child. In everything.'
'Oh why,' cried the Blind Girl, tortured, as it
seemed, almost beyond endurance, 'why did you ever
do this. Why did you ever fill my heart so full
and then come in like Death, and tear away the
objects of my love! O Heaven, how blind I am!
How elpless and alone!'
Her afflicted father hug his head, and offered no
reply but in his penitence and sorrow.
She had been but a short time in this passion of
regret, when the Cricket on the Hearth, unheard by
all but her, began to chirp. Not merrily, but in a low,
faint, sorrowing way. It was so mournful that her
tears began to flow; and when the Presence which
had been beside the Carrier all night, appeared behind
her, pointing to her father, they fell down like rain.
She heard the Cricket-voice more plainly soon, and
was conscious, through her blindness, of the presence
hovering about her father.
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