all blessings. H. and L. M._" The
Klesmers sent a perfect watch, also with a pretty inscription.

But something more precious than gold and gems came to Deronda from the
neighborhood of Diplow on the morning of his marriage. It was a letter
containing these words:--

Do not think of me sorrowfully on your wedding-day. I have remembered
your words--that I may live to be one of the best of women, who
make others glad that they were born. I do not yet see how that can
be, but you know better than I. If it ever comes true, it will be
because you helped me. I only thought of myself, and I made you
grieve. It hurts me now to think of your grief. You must not grieve
any more for me. It is better--it shall be better with me because I
have known you.

GWENDOLEN GRANDCOURT.

The preparations for the departure of all three to the East began at
once; for Deronda could not deny Ezra's wish that they should set out
on the voyage forthwith, so that he might go with them, instead of
detaining them to watch over him. He had no belief that Ezra's life
would last through the voyage, for there were symptoms which seemed to
show that the last stage of his malady had set in. But Ezra himself had
said, "Never mind where I die, so that I am with you."

He did not set out with them. One morning early he said to Deronda, "Do
not quit me to-day. I shall die before it is ended."

He chose to be dressed and sit up in his easy chair as usual, Deronda
and Mirah on each side of him, and for some hours he was unusually
silent, not even making the effort to speak, but looking at them
occasionally with eyes full of some restful meaning, as if to assure
them that while this remnant of breathing-time was difficult, he felt
an ocean of peace beneath him.

It was not till late in the afternoon, when the light was falling, that
he took a hand of each in his and said, looking at Deronda, "Death is
coming to me as the divine kiss which is both parting and
reunion--which takes me from your bodily eyes and gives me full
presence in your soul. Where thou goest, Daniel, I shall go. Is it not
begun? Have I not breathed my soul into you? We shall live together."

He paused, and Deronda waited, thinking that there might be another
word for him. But slowly and with effort Ezra, pressing on their hands,
raised himself and uttered in Hebrew the confession of the divine
Unity, which long for generations has been on the lips of