 cannot fail to be
sustained under his trials, and somehow or other to come right at last; »in
which case,« say they who have hunted him down, »- though we certainly don't
expect it - nobody will be better pleased than we.« Whereas, the world would do
well to reflect, that injustice is in itself, to every generous and properly
constituted mind, an injury, of all others the most insufferable, the most
torturing, and the most hard to bear; and that many clear consciences have gone
to their account elsewhere, and many sound hearts have broken, because of this
very reason; the knowledge of their own deserts only aggravating their
sufferings, and rendering them the less endurable.
    The world, however, was not in fault in Kit's case. But, Kit was innocent;
and knowing this, and feeling that his best friends deemed him guilty - that Mr.
and Mrs. Garland would look upon him as a monster of ingratitude - that Barbara
would associate him with all that was bad and criminal - that the pony would
consider himself forsaken - and that even his own mother might perhaps yield to
the strong appearances against him, and believe him to be the wretch he seemed -
knowing and feeling all this, he experienced, at first, an agony of mind which
no words can describe, and walked up and down the little cell in which he was
locked up for the night, almost beside himself with grief.
    Even when the violence of these emotions had in some degree subsided, and he
was beginning to grow more calm, there came into his mind a new thought, the
anguish of which was scarcely less. The child - the bright star of the simple
fellow's life - she, who always came back upon him like a beautiful dream, - who
had made the poorest part of his existence, the happiest and best - who had ever
been so gentle, and considerate, and good - if she were ever to hear of this,
what would she think! As this idea occurred to him, the walls of the prison
seemed to melt away, and the old place to reveal itself in their stead, as it
was wont to be on winter nights - the fireside, the little supper table, the old
man's hat, and coat, and stick - the half-opened door, leading to her little
room - they were all there. And Nell herself was there, and he - both laughing
heartily as they had often done - and when he had got as far as this, Kit
