Page:A New England Tale.djvu/121

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110
A NEW-ENGLAND TALE.

world, to pay one of her father's old debts with it." Will not our readers pardon Mary, if Mrs. Harvey inferred from the smile of pleasure that brightened her face, that she had sagaciously guessed the truth. Let that be as it may; all parties promised, and what is much more extraordinary, preserved secrecy; and all that was left of Jane's hopes and plans was the consciousness of having acted right—from right motives. Could any one have seen the peacefulness of her heart, he would have pronounced that consciousness a treasure that has no equivalent.

Thus our heroine, placed in circumstances which would have made some desperate, and most discontented; by 'keeping her heart with all diligence,' proved that 'out of it are the issues of life;' she was first resigned, and then happy. She was on an eminence of virtue, to which the conflicts and irritations of her aunt's family did not reach.