all day to-morrow in
many places, and the day after, and for long years to come. Would that
it could broaden and increase to a general deluge, and submerge the
world!

Now the whole house was still, and its master was weary. He sat there,
quietly musing, feeling the sweet and tranquil presence near him. Now
the fire was screened, the lights were out, save one dim glimmer, and he
had lain down on the couch with the letter in his hand, and slept the
dreamless sleep of a child.

He slept until the gray dawn of Christmas day stole into the room, and
showed him the figure of his friend, a shape of glorious light, standing
by his side, and gazing at him with large and tender eyes! He had no
fear. All was deep, serene, and happy with the happiness of heaven.
Looking up into that beautiful, wan face--so tranquil--so radiant;
watching, with a child-like awe, the star-fire in those shadowy eyes;
smiling faintly, with a great, unutterable love thrilling slowly through
his frame, in answer to the smile of light that shone upon the phantom
countenance; so he passed a space of time which seemed a calm eternity,
till, at last, the communion of spirit with spirit--of mortal love with
love immortal--was perfected, and the shining hands were laid on his
forehead, as with a touch of air. Then the phantom smiled, and, as its
shining hands were withdrawn, the thought of his daughter mingled in the
vision. She was bending over him! The dawn--the room, were the same. But
the ghost of Feval had gone out from earth, away to its own land!

"Father, dear father! Your eyes were open, and they did not look at me.
There is a light on your face, and your features are changed! What is
it--what have you seen?"

"Hush, darling: here--kneel by me, for a little while, and be still. I
have seen the dead."

She knelt by him, burying her awe-struck face in his bosom, and clung to
him with all the fervor of her soul. He clasped her to his breast, and
for minutes all was still.

"Dear child--good and dear child!"

The voice was tremulous and low. She lifted her fair, bright
countenance, now convulsed with a secret trouble, and dimmed with
streaming tears, to his, and gazed on him. His eyes were shining; but
his pallid cheeks, like hers, were wet with tears. How still the room
was! How like a thought of solemn tenderness, the pale gray dawn! The
world was far away, and his soul still wandered in the peaceful awe of
his dream. The world was coming back