choose like God himself, for then shall his will itself be free. Freedom to choose and freedom of the will are two different conditions.
Before the lovers, which it wanted no moment to make them, left the room, they had agreed that Annie must at once leave the house. Hector took her to her mother’s door, and when he returned he found that his father and mother had retired. But it may be well that I should tell a little more of what had passed between the lovers before they parted.
Annie’s first thought when they were left together was, “Alas! what will my mistress say? She must think the worst possible of me!”
“Oh, Hector!” she broke out, “whatever will your mother think of me?”
“No good, I’m afraid,” answered Hector honestly. “But that is hardly what we have to think of at this precise moment.”
“Take back what you said!” cried Annie; “I will promise you never to think of it again—at least, I will try never once to do so. It must have been all my fault—though I do not know how, and never dreamed it was coming. Perhaps I shall find out, when I think over it, where I was to blame.”