y of Sark. A
year ago I should have rejoiced in any measure of punishment or
retribution, which had overtaken those who had destroyed my happiness.
But it was not so now; or perhaps I should rather own that it was only
faintly so. It had never occurred to me that my flight would plunge him
into poverty similar to my own. But now that the idea was thrust upon
me. I wondered how I could have overlooked this necessary consequence of
my conduct. Ought I to do any thing for him? Was there any thing I could
do to help him?"

"He is ill, too," pursued the child; "I heard him say once to Mrs.
Foster, he knew he should die like a dog. I was a little tiny bit sorry
for him then; for nobody would like to die like a dog, and not go to
heaven, you know. But I don't care now, I shall never see them
again--never, never! I could jump out of my skin for joy. I sha'n't even
know when he is dead, if he does die like a dog."

Ill! dead! My heart beat faster and faster as I pondered over these
words. Then I should be free indeed; his death would release me from
bondage, from terror, from poverty--those three evils which dogged my
steps. I had never ventured to let my thoughts run that way, but this
child's prattling had forced them into it. Richard Foster ill--dying! O
God! what ought I to do?

I could not make myself known to him; that was impossible. I would ten
thousand times sooner die myself than return to him. He was not alone
either. But yet there came back to my mind the first days when I knew
him, when he was all tenderness and devotion to me, declaring that he
could find no fault in his girl-wife. How happy I had been for a little
while, exchanging my stepmother's harshness for his indulgence! He might
have won my love; he had almost won it. But that happy, golden time was
gone, and could never come back to me. Yet my heart was softened toward
him, as I thought of him ill, perhaps dying. What could I do for him,
without placing myself in his power?

There was one thing only that I could do, only one little sacrifice I
could make for him whom I had vowed, in childish ignorance, to love,
honor, and cherish in sickness and in health, until death parted us. A
home was secured to me for twelve months, and at the end of that time I
should have a better career open to me. I had enough money still to last
me until then. My diamond ring, which had been his own gift to me on our
wedding-day, would be valuable to him. Sixty pounds would