him to listen not to lose a breath with his arms resting on his knees and stooping forward in his chair as if what he said were written on the ground in some half character which it was bis occupation to and connect he went on the i have fallen very low and you may guess how much i have suffered in having this sent back when i bear to bring it in my hand to you but you loved her once even in my memory dearly others stepped in between you fears and and doubts and you from her but you did love her even in my memory i suppose i did he said himself for a moment i did that s neither here nor there o richard if you ever did if you have any memory for what is gone and lost take it to her once more once more teu her how i begged and prayed tell her how i laid my head upon your shoulder where her own head might have lain and was so humble to you richard tell her that you looked into my face and saw the beauty which she used to praise all gone all gone and in its lace a poor wan cheek that she would weep to see tell her everything and take it back and she will not refuse again she will have the heart so he sat musing and repeating the last words until he woke again and rose you won t take it margaret she shook her head and an entreaty to him to leave her good night margaret good night he turned to look upon ner struck by her sorrow and perhaps by the pity for himself which trembled in her voice it was a quick and rapid action and for the moment some flash of his old bearing kindled in his form in the next he went as he had come nor did this glimmer of a � re seem to light him to a quicker sense of his in any mood in any grief in any torture of the or body s work must be done she sat down to her task and plied it night midnight still she worked she had a meagre fire the night being very cold and rose at intervals to mend it the half past twelve while she was thus engaged and when ceased she heard a gentle knocking at the door before she could so much as wonder who was there at that hour it opened o youth and beauty happy as ye should be look at this o youth and and blessing all within your reach and working out the ends of your beneficent creator look at this thb she saw the entering figure screamed its name cried it was swift and fell upon its knees before her clinging to her dress up dear up my own dearest never more never more here here close to you holding to you feeling your dear breath upon my face sweet darling child of my heart � no mother s love can be more tender � lay your head upon my breast � never more never more when i first looked into your face you knelt before me on my knees before you let me die let it be here you have come back my treasure we will live together work together hope together die together ah kiss my lips fold your arms about me press me to your bosom look kindly on me but don t raise me let it be here let me see the last of your dear face upon my knees o youth and beauty happy as ye should be look at this o youth and beauty out the ends of your beneficent creator look at this forgive me so dear so dear forgive me i know you do i see you do but say so she said so with her on s cheek and with her arms round � she knew it now � a broken heart his blessing on you dearest love kiss me once more he her to sit beside his feet and dry them with her hair o what mercy and compassion as she died the spirit of the child returning innocent and radiant touched the old man with its hand and beckoned him away thb fourth quarter new remembrance of the ghostly figures in the bells some faint impression of the ringing of the some giddy consciousness of having seen the swarm of and until the recollection of them lost itself in the confusion of their numbers some hurried knowledge how conveyed to him he knew not that more years had passed and with the spirit of the child attending him stood looking on at mortal company fat company rosy company comfortable company they were but two but they were red enough for ten they sat before a bright fire with a small low table between them and unless the fragrance of hot tea and lingered longer in that room than in most others the table had seen service very lately but all the cups and being clean and in their proper places in the comer cupboard and the brass fork hanging in its usual nook and spreading its four idle fingers out as ir it wanted to be measured for a glove there remained no other visible tokens of the meal just finished than such as and washed their whiskers in the person of the cat and in the gracious not to say the greasy faces of her this couple married evidently had made a fair division of the fire between them and sat looking at the glowing sparks that dropped into the grate now nodding off into a now waking up again when some hot fi larger than the rest came rattling down as if the fire were coming with it it was in no danger of sudden however 