thout looking at Edwin, approached the bier and
seemed utterly petrified with surprise at the incomprehensible mystery
of death. Her face was as still and white as that of the departed. Only
her eyes, which without the quiver of a lash, rested intently on the
noble countenance of the dead, glowed with the intense fire of life.

For a time no words were uttered; at length Frau Valentin, wiping her
eyes, approached Edwin. "Forgive me for coming," said she. "My heart
brought me here. You needn't fear that I shall obtrude words of
consolation that would be meaningless to you. But to me, to us, you
will not grudge the comfort of believing that the Father has recalled
his child, and that we other children of God shall meet him again in
the eternal home; and meet you too, dear friend, who until then must
feel his loss so terribly."

"Thank you," replied Edwin. "I know your meaning is the kindest. You
wish to give me of your abundance in what you think is my poverty. To
be sure, I've lost much; for what can replace the joy of daily and
hourly drinking in every look, every thought that proceeds from such a
soul! I'll say nothing about him; he would never let me praise him to
his face, and I'm foolish enough to fear that yonder poor husk would
begin to blush. To speak of him later--behind his back--will be the
best consolation. As for the rest--do you really believe, that I shall
not see him again daily and hourly, even without waiting for a heavenly
meeting? If I were forced to await that, I should hardly linger long
behind. But I have him, he can never be torn from me; the happiness of
having known and loved such a creature in the flesh and blood, can
never pass when the flesh moulders away. This spiritual intercourse is
the only really living thing, the only eternity, and it continues to
exist amid a thousand changes, an inextinguishable flame, even when the
individual brain and heart which for a time have fed the flame, cease
to feed it longer. They may well crumble to ashes, when their short
blaze has kindled a fire in other souls." He paused. She had listened
with deep emotion and a scarcely perceptible shake of the head; but
repressed any desire she might have had to contradict him. Edwin now
approached Leah.

"I thank you for coming," said he as he pressed her hand. Large tears
welled to her eyes, but she did not utter a word. "See how beautiful he
is!" Edwin gently continued. "I know you will never forget these
featur