v of david dearest husband said now that i may call you by that name i have one thing more to tell you let me hear it love it grows out of the night when died she sent you for me she did she told me that she left me something can you think what it was i believed i could i drew the wife who had so long loved me closer to my side she told me that she made a last request to me and left me a last charge and it was that only i would occupy this vacant place and laid her head upon my breast and wept and i wept with her though we were so happy chapter a visitor what i have to record is nearly finished but there is yet an incident conspicuous in my memory on which it often rests with delight and without which one thread in the web i have spun would have a end i had advanced in fame and fortune my domestic joy was perfect i had been married ten happy years and i were sitting by the fire in our house in london one night in spring and three of our children were playing in the room when i was told that a stranger wished to see me he had been asked if he came on business and had answered no he had come for the pleasure of seeing me and had come a long way he was an old man my servant said and looked like a farmer as this sounded mysterious to the children and moreover was like the beginning of a favorite story used to tell them to the arrival of a wicked old fairy in a cloak who hated every body it produced some commotion one of our boys laid his head in his mother s lap to be out of harm s way and little our eldest child left her doll in a chair to represent her and thrust out her little heap of golden curls from between the window curtains to see what happened next let him come in here said i there soon appeared pausing in the dark doorway as he entered a hale grey haired old man little attracted by his looks had run to bring him in and i had not yet clearly seen bis face when my wife starting up cried out to me in a pleased and agitated voice that it was mr the personal and experience it was mr an old man now but in a ruddy hearty strong old age when our first emotion was over and he sat before the fire with the children on his knees and the blaze shining on his face he looked to me as vigorous and robust withal as handsome an old man as ever i had seen r said he and the old name in the old tone fell so naturally on my ear r tis a joyful hour as i see you once more long with your own wife a joyful hour indeed old friend cried i and these pretty ones said mr to look at these flowers why r you was but the of the of these when i first see you when em ly warn t no bigger and our poor lad were but a lad time has changed me more than it has changed you since then said i but let these dear go to bed and as no house in england but this must hold you tell me where to send for your luggage is the old black bag among it that went so far i wonder and then over a glass of we will have the tidings of ten years are you alone asked yes ma am he said kissing her hand quite alone we sat him between us not knowing how to give him welcome enough and as i began to listen to his old familiar voice i could have fancied he was still pursuing his long journey in search of his darling niece it s a of water said mr fur to come across and on y stay a matter of weeks but water specially when tis salt comes to me and friends is dear and i am � which is verse said mr surprised to find it out though i hadn t such intentions are you going back those many thousand miles so soon asked yes ma am he returned i the promise to em ly afore i come away you see i t grow younger as the years comes round and if i hadn t sailed as twas most like i shouldn t never have done t and it s been on my mind as i must come and see r and your own sweet blooming self in your wedded happiness afore i got to be too old he looked at us as if he could never feast his eyes on us sufficiently put back some scattered locks of his grey hair that he might see us better and now tell us said i everything relating to your fortunes our r he rejoined is soon told we haven t but to we ve we ve worked as we ought to t and maybe we lived a hard at first or so but we have what with sheep farming and what with and what with one thing and what with t other we are as well to do as well could be s been a blessing fell upon us said mr his head and we ve done but prosper that is in the long run if not yesterday why then to day if not to day why then to morrow op david and said and i both together em ly said he yon left her ma am � and i never her saying of her prayers at night t other side the canvas screen when we was settled 