to the
other room, and there held her gasping for breath, now that the brief
strength was spent, and crying feebly, "O God, O God, help me! Don't
keep me here in this world any longer!"

If this brief scene filled the neighbours with pity, what shall be said
of its effect on Robert Hardy? For a moment it seemed to him more than
he could bear. He started to his feet and put his hands before his
face. Then calming himself by a great effort, he sat down and his face
became almost like a stone in its rigidity. When his wife finally
succeeded in getting the woman into the rear room, his face relaxed and
he breathed more easily; but as soon as possible he arose and went out
and stood silent there until the body was brought out and placed in the
hearse. Then he went in and spoke a few words to his wife, and told
Mr. Jones that he could take four or five to the cemetery if they
wished to go. Mrs. Hardy would stay with the suffering widow until he
came back. Mr. Hardy also whispered something to his minister, and
gave him a large roll of bills to be used for the family. Then he went
out again.

That ride in the cold gray of the declining winter afternoon was a
bitter experience to Robert. He roused himself at the grave as he
heard the words, "Raise us from the death of sin unto the resurrection
of righteousness," and something like a gleam of hope shot through his
heart at the words. Surely there was mercy with Him who had conquered
death for the sake of the human race. He drove back with more peace of
soul than he had thought possible. By the time he had reached the shop
tenements it was growing dark. He went home with his wife and thought
with something of a feeling of pleasure of the evening before him with
his family. The second day had been more agitating in some ways than
his first.

He had been unnerved at the funeral, and had felt remorse more keenly
than he had once thought possible. As he reviewed the events of the
day with his wife, he felt dissatisfied. And yet he had truly tried to
do his duty in the light of eternity. What more could he do?

He felt anxious about George, and told his wife of the conversation he
had had with him. Mrs. Hardy felt the same anxiety as her husband.
After the horses were put up and the father and mother had gone into
the house, they continued the conversation. Alice was upstairs with
George, and the other children had not come back. It was dark, but
husband and