"The clouds may clear--sunshine may burst forth when least expected."
"May! That's what I repeat to myself day and night--day and night. The two words, '_Hope on_,' are ever beating to and fro in my brain, like the tickings of that clock, and sometimes I persuade myself that the time-piece says, '_Hope on, hope on_.' But only the years roll on--the hope is never realised; and soon my heart will whisper, and the clock will tick, '_no hope, no hope_.'"
"Do you never earnestly pray that God will lighten the heavy load that weighs on your spirits or that He will bring comfort to your sorrowing heart?"
"Do I ever cease to pray; or is there not one fervent prayer always on my lips and heart? Day after day I bewail my sins, and ask God's forgiveness and mercy for my poor, broken, contrite heart, and sometimes I rise from my knees, feeling at peace with--with even _her_. But then wild thoughts come back; thoughts that utterly distract me, and which I can neither control nor prevent, and then I go mad, and don't know what I say or think. But enough of my sufferings. You can neither heal nor cure them; even now you have seen too much, and betrayed me into saying more than I ought. Tell me what led you to my cottage so early?"
"I could not sleep last night," replied Amy, "and so strolled out, thinking the air would revive me."
"It is strange you could not sleep," replied Goody Grey, speaking as she usually did to strangers, in a half solemn, impressive manner. "You who have health, youth, and innocence to help you. I seldom sleep, but then I am old and careworn. Why could you not sleep?" and she looked as though she would pierce the inmost recesses of Amy's heart.
"I can scarcely tell you why, perhaps my fancy misled me; but whatever the cause, I would rather not speak of it."
"Well perhaps it were best so, and better still if the parent bird looked after her young, when the kite may find its way to her nest."
"I scarcely understand your words," she replied, "or I am at a loss to understand their meaning."
"I meant you no harm, 'twas for your good I spoke. Others have thought like you and been deceived. Others have hoped like you, and been deceived. Others have been as loving and true as you _may be_, and been deceived. When you think yourself the safest, then remember my words, 'when you think that you stand, take heed lest you fall.'"