, like
the blue of the sky, under my feet. It was not so wide but that I could
see across it, but it was oh! so terribly deep. All at once, as I stood
trembling on the very edge, I saw you on the other side, looking towards
me, and stretching out your arms as if you wanted me. You were old and
much changed, but I knew you at once, and I gave a cry that I thought
all the universe must have heard. You heard me. I could see that. And
I was in a terrible agony to get to you. But there was no way, for if I
fell into the gulf I should go down for ever, it was so deep. Something
made me look away, and I saw a man coming quietly along the same side of
the gulf, on the edge, towards me. And when he came nearer to me, I saw
that he was dressed in a gown down to his feet, and that his feet were
bare and had a hole in each of them. So I knew who it was, Andrew. And
I fell down and kissed his feet, and lifted up my hands, and looked into
his face--oh, such a face! And I tried to pray. But all I could say was,
"O Lord, Andrew, Andrew!" Then he smiled, and said, "Daughter, be of
good cheer. Do you want to go to him?" And I said, "Yes, Lord." Then he
said, "And so do I. Come." And he took my hand and led me over the edge
of the precipice; and I was not afraid, and I did not sink, but walked
upon the air to go to you. But when I got to you, it was too much to
bear; and when I thought I had you in my arms at last, I awoke, crying
as I never cried before, not even when I found that you had left me to
die without you. Oh, Andrew, what if the dream should come true! But if
it should not come true! I dare not think of that, Andrew. I couldn't be
happy in heaven without you. It may be very wicked, but I do not feel as
if it were, and I can't help it if it is. But, dear husband, come to
me again. Come back, like the prodigal in the New Testament. God will
forgive you everything. Don't touch drink again, my dear love. I know it
was the drink that made you do as you did. You could never have done it.
It was the drink that drove you to do it. You didn't know what you were
doing. And then you were ashamed, and thought I would be angry, and
could not bear to come back to me. Ah, if you were to come in at the
door, as I write, you would see whether or not I was proud to have my
Andrew again. But I would not be nice for you to look at now. You used
to think me pretty--you said beautiful--so long ago. But I am so thin
now, and my face so white, that I a