Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: " Oh! forgive me, forgive me, my dear!" she interrupted, confused beyond measure. " In your blind anger, you took whatever came first to your hand, and threw it into my face. From that came this wound," he added with a smile, pointing to the scar over his right eye; " this wound of which I still bear the scar." " O heaven!" cried Bertrande, " can you ever forgive me?" " You see that I can and do," Martin replied, embracing her. Deeply moved, she put away the hair from her husband's forehead, and looked at the mark left by the blow. " Why!" said she, in astonishment not unmixed with alarm, " the scar seems to be quite fresh " " Oh, yes!" rejoined Martin, with some embarrassment, " it re-opened only a short time ago. But I never think of it now; let's say no more about it, Bertrande; I don't wish to say anything to make you fear that you are any the less dear to me." He drew her down upon his knees; she gently resisted. "Send your son away," said Martin; "to-morrow he shall have evidence of my affection; but to-night, Bertrande, you are first in my thoughts." The child kissed his father, and left the room. Bertrande returned and knelt beside her husband, gazing into his face with an anxious smile. Her close scrutiny seemed to annoy Martin. " What is the matter? " he said; " why do you examine me so ? " " I don't know, my dear; forgive me, oh! do forgive me—the happiness of seeing you again was so unexpected!it seems like a dream, and I can't get accustomed to it so quickly; give me time to collect myself; let me pass the night in prayer! I ought to give thanks to God first of all for my happiness." " No," rejoined her husband, putting his arm around her white neck, and smoothing her long hair; " no, your first thoughts are mine by right; aft... --This text refers to the Paperback edition.