"August 3d, 11 P. M.

"Dearest Colin,--The one sound in my ears, the one song in my heart is,

'Let them give thanks.' It is as if we had passed from a dungeon into

sunshine. I suppose it would be too much if you were here to share it.

They sent Rose in first to tell me, but I knew in the sound of their

wheels that all was well. What an evening we have had, but I must not

write more. Ailie is watching me like a dragon, and will not rest till I

am in bed; but I can't tell how to lose one minute of gladness in sleep.

Oh, Colin, Colin, truest of all true knights, what an achievement yours

has been!"

"August 4th.

"That was a crazy bit that I wrote last night, but I will not make away

with it. I don't care how crazy you think me. It would have been a pity

not to have slept to wake to the knowledge that all was not a dream, but

then came the contrast with the sorrow you are watching. And I have just

had your letter. What a sudden close to that joyous life! She was one

of the most winning beings, as you truly say, that ever flashed across

one's course, and if she had faults, they were those of her day and her

training. I suppose, by what you say, that she was too girlish to be all

the companion your brother required, and that this may account for his

being more shocked than sorrow-stricken, and his child, since he can

dwell on the thought, is such a new beginning of hope, that I wonder

less than you do at his bearing up so well. Besides, pain dulls the

feelings, and is a great occupation. I wish you could have seen that

dear Bessie, but I gather that the end came on much more rapidly than

had been expected. It seemed as if she were one of those to whom even

suffering was strangely lightened and shortened, as if she had met only

the flowers of life, and even the thorns and stings were almost lost in

their bright blossoms. And she could hardly have lived on without much

either of temptation or sorrow. I am glad of your testimony to Rachel's

effectiveness, I wrote it out and sent it up to the Homestead. There

was a note this morning requesting Edward to come in to see Maddox, and

Ailie is gone with him, thinking she may get leave to see poor Maria.

Think of writing 'Edward and Ailie again! Dr. Long and Harry are gone

with them. The broken thread is better pieced by Harry than by the

Doctor; but he wants Ailie and me to go and stay at Belfast. Now I must

hear Rose read, in order to bring both her and myself to our reasonable

senses."




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