You have changed me from a hard
disappointed bitter-minded woman--envious, at times, even of you--into
your loving and devoted friend. You have changed me from a miserable
creature into a contented and hopeful one. You have taught me to forget
that my childhood and youth were one long night of wretchedness and
degradation. You have taught me to forgive the father who suffered my
life to be what it was, and made no one poor effort to lift me out of the
slough of despond to which he had sunk. I can say no more, Charlotte.
There are things that cannot be told by words."
"And you want to leave me!" said Charlotte, in accents half-wondering,
half-reproachful.
"My father wants me to leave you, Lotta; and some one else--some one whom
you must know and like before I can be sure I like him myself."
"Him!" cried Charlotte, with a faint shriek of surprise. "Diana, WHAT are
you going to tell me?"
"A secret, Lotta; something which my father has forbidden me to tell any
one, but which I will not hide from you. My poor father has found a kind
friend--a friend who is almost as good to him as you are to me. How
merciful Heaven is in raising up friends for outcasts! And I have seen a
good deal of this gentleman who is so kind to papa, and the result is
that--chiefly for papa's sake, and because I know that he is generous and
brave and true, I mean papa's friend, M.
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