ss grave in the churchyard, I know your kind heart--I die,
Bernard, in the firm belief that you will forgive me.

There was one thing more that I had to ask of you, relating to a poor
lost creature who is in the room with us at this moment. But, oh, I
am so weary! Mr. Fennick will tell you what it is. Say to yourself
sometimes--perhaps when you have married some lady who is worthy of
you--There was good as well as bad in poor Emma. Farewell.

_Number Two--From The Rev. Charles Fennick to Bernard Winterfield._

The Rectory, Belhaven.

Sir--It is my sad duty to inform you that Mrs. Emma Winterfield died
this morning, a little before five o'clock. I will add no comment of
mine to the touching language in which she has addressed you. God has,
I most sincerely believe, accepted the poor sinner's repentance. Her
contrite spirit is at peace, among the forgiven ones in the world beyond
the grave.

In consideration of her wish that you should see her in death, the
coffin will be kept open until the last moment. The medical man in
attendance has kindly given me a copy of his certificate, which I
inclose. You will see that the remains are identified by the description
of a small silver plate on the right parietal bone of the skull.

I need hardly add that all the information I can give you is willingly
at your service.

She mentions, poor soul, something which she had to ask of you. I prefer
the request which, in her exhausted state, she was unable to address to
you in her own words.

While the performances of the circus were taking place in the next
county to ours, a wandering lad, evidently of deficient intelligence,
was discovered, trying to creep under the tent to see what was going
on. He could give no intelligible account of himself. The late Mrs.
Winterfield (who was born and brought up, as I understand, in France)
discovered that the boy was French, and felt interested in the
unfortunate creature, from former happy association with kind friends
of his nation. She took care of him from that time to the day of her
death--and he appeared to be gratefully attached to her.

I say "appeared," because an inveterate reserve marks one of the
peculiarities of the mental affliction from which he suffers. Even his
benefactress never could persuade him to take her into his confidence.
In other respects, her influence (so far as I can learn) had been
successfully exerted in restraining certain mischievous propensities in
him,