The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 5

by Beth Brower

Islington proffered me the full weight of his gaze. “He said he wished you to be wise, and good, and true to the beatings of your own heart, and hoped that you could be spared the extremes of society, both the very poor and the very rich, so that neither need nor indulgence would spoil the soul he loved more than anything else in the world.”

“I stole it,” Islington said. “That wish, that counsel. Pretending the words were spoken for me. And they have kept me on a steady path when I could have fallen into every temptation you can imagine, and some I dare say you can’t.” Looking back at him, I said, “Thank you for telling me that.” “Thank you for letting me borrow a wish meant for you. I hope it wasn’t neglectful of me to wait until now to return it to its rightful owner.”