ost the only man I loved,
I knew no one else could replace him, and I was not the kind to marry
for pique. People thought me handsome, but I felt myself aged when you
ceased to call. Perhaps when you and she who holds all your love come
to sheol, she may spare you to me a little, for as a spirit my every
thought is known; or perhaps after the resurrection, when I, too, can
leave this planet, we shall all soar through space together, and we can
study the stars as of old."

"Your voice is a symphony, sweetest Violet, and I love to hear your
words. Ah, would you could once more return to earth, or that I were
an ethereal spirit, that we might commune face to face! I would follow
you from one end of Shadowland to the other. Of what use is life to
me, with distractions that draw my thoughts to earth as gravitation
drew my body? I wish I were a shade."

"You are talking for effect, Dick--which is useless here, for I see how
utterly you are in love."

"I AM in love, Violet; and though, as I said, I have no reason to doubt
Sylvia's steadfastness and constancy, I am very unhappy. I have always
heard that time is a balsam that cures all ills, yet I become more
wretched every day."

"Do all you can to preserve that love, and it will bring you joy all
your life. Your happiness is my happiness. What distresses you,
distresses me."

The tones here grew fainter and seemed about to cease.

"Before you leave me," cried Ayrault, "tell me how and when I may see
or hear you again."

"While you remain on this planet, I shall be near; but beyond Saturn I
cannot go."

"Yet tell me, Violet, how I may see you? My love unattained, you
perceive, makes me wretched, while you always gave me calm and peace.
If I may not kiss the hand I almost asked might be mine, let me have
but a glance from your sweet eyes, which will comfort me so much now."

"If you break the ice in the pool behind you, you shall see me till the
frame melts."

After this the silence was broken only by the sighing of the wind in
the trees. The pool had suddenly become covered with ice several
inches thick. Taking an axe, Ayrault hewed out a parallelogram about
three feet by four and set it on end against the bank. The cold grey
of morning was already colouring the east, and in the growing light
Ayrault beheld a vision of Violet within the ice. The face was at
about three fourths, and had a contemplative air. The hair was
arranged as he had formerly se