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hold on his mind； to claim him in the sweet names of Pity and of
Love。 If she had turned and looked at him at that moment； their
next words would have been spoken in each other's arms。 But the
oppression of her despair under his silence was too heavy for
her； and she never moved。
He forced himself to look away from her； he struggled hard to
break the silence between them。
〃God forgive you； Emily！〃 he said。
As her name passed his lips； his voice failed him； and the
torture at his heart burst its way out in sobs。 He hurried to the
door to spare her the terrible reproof of the grief that had now
mastered him。 When he passed her she turned toward him with a
faint cry。
He caught her as she sank forward； and saved her from dropping on
the floor。 For the last time his arms closed round her。 For the
last time his lips touched herscold and insensible to him now。
He laid her on the sofa and went out。
One of the female servants was crossing the hall。 The girl
started as she met him； and turned pale at the sight of his face。
He could not speak to her； but he pointed to the study door。 He
saw her go into the room； and then left the house。
He never entered it more； and he and his wife never met again。
Later on that last day； a sister of Mr。 Carling'sa married
woman living in the towncame to the rectory。 She brought an
open note with her； addressed to the unhappy mistress of the
house。 It contained these few lines； blotted and stained with
tears：
May God grant us both the time for repentance！ If I had loved you
less； I might have trusted myself to see you again。 Forgive me；
and pity me； and remember me in your prayers； as I shall forgive；
and pity； and remember you。
He had tried to write more； but the pen had dropped from his
hand。 His sister's entreaties had not moved him。 After giving her
the note to deliver； he had solemnly charged her to be gentle in
communicating the tidings that she bore； and had departed alone
for London。 He heard all remonstrances with patience。 He did not
deny that the deception of which his wife had been guilty was the
most pardonable of all concealments of the truth； because it
sprang from her love for him； but he had the same hopeless answer
for every one who tried to plead with himthe verse from the
Gospel of Saint Luke。
His purpose in traveling to London was to make the necessary
arrangements for his wife's future existence； and then to get
employment which would separate him from his home and from all
its associations。 A missionary expedition to one of the Pacific
Islands accepted him as a volunteer。 Broken in body and spirit；
his last look of England from the deck of the ship was his last
look at land。 A fortnight afterward； his brethren read the
burial…service over him on a calm； cloudless evening at sea。
Before he was committed to the deep； his little pocket Bible；
which had been a present from his wife； was； in accordance with
his dying wishes； placed open on his breast； so that the
inscription； 〃To my dear Husband；〃 might rest over his heart。
His unhappy wife still lives。 When the farewell lines of her
husband's writing reached her she was incapable of comprehending
them。 The mental prostration which had followed the parting scene
was soon complicated by physical sufferingby fever on the
brain。 To the surprise of all who attended her； she lived through
the shock； recovering with the complete loss of one faculty；
which； in her situation； poor thing； was a mercy and a gain to
herthe faculty of memory。 From that time to this she has never
had the slightest gleam of recollection of anything that happened
before her illness。 In her happy oblivion； the veriest trifles
are as new and as interesting to her as if she was beginning her
existence again。 Under the tender care of the friends who now
protect her； she lives contentedly the life of a child。 When her
last hour comes； may she die with nothing on her memory but the
recollection of their kindness！
THE EIGHTH DAY。
THE wind that I saw in the sky yesterday has come。 It sweeps down
our little valley in angry howling gusts； and drives the heavy
showers before it in great sheets of spray。
There are some people who find a strangely exciting effect
produced on their spirits by the noise； and rush； and tumult of
the elements on a stormy day。 It has never been so with me； and
it is less so than ever now。 I can hardly bear to think of my son
at sea in such a tempest as this。 While I can still get no news
of his ship； morbid fancies beset me which I vainly try to shake
off。 I see the trees through my window bending before the wind。
Are the masts of the good ship bending like them at this moment？
I hear the wash of the driving rain。 Is _he_ hearing the thunder
of the raging waves？ If he had only come back last night！it is
vain to dwell on it； but the thought will haunt meif he had
only come back last night！
I tried to speak cautiously about him again to Jessie； as Owen
had advised me； but I am so old and feeble now that this
ill…omened storm has upset me； and I could not feel sure enough
of my own self…control to venture on matching myself to…day
against a light…hearted； lively girl； with all her wits about
her。 It is so important that I should not betray Georgeit would
be so inexcusable on my part if his interests suffered； even
accidentally； in my hands。
This was a trying day for our guest。 Her few trifling indoor
resources had； as I could see； begun to lose their attractions
for her at last。 If we were not now getting to the end of the
stories； and to the end； therefore； of the Ten Days also； our
chance of keeping her much longer at the Glen Tower would be a
very poor one。
It was； I think； a great relief for us all to be summoned
together this evening for a definite purpose。 The wind had fallen
a little as it got on toward dusk。 To hear it growing gradually
fainter and fainter in the valley below added immeasurably to the
comforting influence of the blazing fire and the cheerful lights
when the shutters were closed for the night。
The number drawn happened to be the last of the seriesTenand
the last also of the stories which I had written。 There were now
but two numbers left in the bowl。 Owen and Morgan had each one
reading more to accomplish before our guest's stay came to an
end； and the manuscripts in the Purple Volume were all exhausted。
〃This new story of mine；〃 I said； 〃is not； like the story I last
read； a narrative of adventure happening to myself； but of
adventures that happened to a lady of my acquaintance。 I was
brought into contact； in the first instance； with one of her male
relatives； and； in the second instance； with the lady herself； by
certain professional circumstances which I need not particularly
describe。 They involved a dry question of wills and title…deeds
in no way connected with this story； but sufficiently important
to interest me as a lawyer。 The case came to trial at the Assizes
on my circuit； and I won it in the face of some very strong
points； very well put； on the other side。 I was in poor health at
the time； and my exertions so completely knocked me up that I was
confined to bed in my lodgings for a week or more〃
〃And the grateful lady came and nursed you； I suppose；〃 said the
Queen of Hearts； in her smart； off…h and way。
〃The grateful lady did something much more natural in her
position； and much more useful in mine；〃 I answered〃she sent
her servant to attend on me。 He was an elderly man； who had been
in her service since the time of her first marriage； and he was
also one of the most sensible and well…informed persons whom I
have ever met with in his station of life。 From hints which he
dropped while he was at my bedside； I discovered for the first
time that his mistress had been unfortunate in her second
marriage； and that the troubles of that period of her life had
ended in one of the most singular events which had happened in
that part of England for many a long day past。 It is hardly
necessary to say that； before I allowed the man to enter into any
particulars； I stipulated that he should obtain his mistress's
leave to communicate what he knew。 Having gained this； and having
further surprised me by mentioning that he had been himself
connected with all the circumstances； he told me the whole story
in the fullest detail。 I have now tried to reproduce it as nearly
as I could in his own language。 Imagine； therefore； that I am
just languidly recovering in bed； and that a respectable elderly
man； in quiet black costume； is sitting at my pillow and speaking
to me in these terms〃
Thus ending my little preface； I opened the manuscript and began
my last story。
BROTHER GRIFFITH'S STORY
of
A PLOT IN PRIVATE LIFE。
CHAPTER I。
THE first place I got when I began going out to service was not a
very profitable one。 I certainly gained the advantage of learning
my business thoroughly； but I never had my due in the matter of
wages。 My master was made a bankrupt； and his servants suffered
with the rest of his creditors
My second situation； however； amply compensated me for my want of
luck in the first。 I had the good fortune to enter the service