"Andrew," she said, "I am going to do an unusual thing, but you are not like other men, and will not misunderstand! I know you now--know you as far above other men as the clouds are above this heath!"
"Hear me out, Andrew," she interrupted--then paused a little.
"Tell me," she resumed, "ought we not to love best the best we know?"
"Surely, ma'am!" he answered, uncomfortable, but not anticipating what was on the way.
"Andrew, you are the best I know! I have said it! I do not care what the world thinks; you are more to me than all the worlds! If you will take me, I am yours."
She looked him in the face with the feeling that she had done a brave and a right thing.
"_Me_, ma'am!" he gasped, and grew pale--then red as a foggy sun. But he made scarcely a moment's pause.
"It's a God-like thing you have done, ma'am!" he said. "But I can not make the return it deserves. From the heart of my heart I thank you. I can say no more."
His voice trembled. She heard a stifled sob. He had turned away to conceal his emotion.
And now came greatness indeed to the front. Instead of drawing herself up with the bitter pride of a woman whose best is scorned, Alexa behaved divinely. She went close to Andrew, laid her hand on his arm, and said:
"Forgive me, Andrew. I made a mistake. I had no right to make it. Do not be grieved, I beg; you are nowise to blame. Let us continue friends!"
"Thank you, ma'am!" said Andrew, in a tone of deepest gratitude; and neither said a word more. They walked side by side back to the house.
"I have at least been refused by a man worthy of the honor I did him! I made no mistake in _him_!"
When they reached the door, she stopped. Andrew took off his hat, and said, holding it in his hand as he spoke:
"Good-night, ma'am! You _will_ send for me if you want me?"
"I will. Good-night!" said Alexa, and went in with a strange weight on her heart.
Shut in her room, she wept sorely, but not bitterly; and the next day old Meg, at least, saw no change in her.
The next evening, that before the trial, Andrew presented himself at the prison, and was admitted. Dawtie came to meet him, held out her hand, and said:
"Dawtie, I can not see God's eyes looking at me, but I am ready to do what He wants me to do, and so I feel He is with me."