how know I whom you should wed,
and once that anchor is down no windlass will wind it up and death alone
can cut its chain. One word more. Though you are so young and strong
remember that as I am, so shall you be. To-day for me, to-morrow for
thee, said the wise old man, and thus it ever was and is.

"Hubert, I do not know why we are born to struggle and to suffer and at
last be noosed with the rope of Doom. Yet I hope the priests are right
and that we live again, though Solomon thought not so; that is, if we
live where there is neither sin nor sorrow nor fear of death. If so, be
sure that in some new land we shall meet afresh, and there I shall ask
account of you of the wealth I entrusted to your keeping. Think of me
kindly at times, for I have learned to love you who are of my blood, and
while we live on in the hearts of those we love, we are not truly dead.
Come hither that I may bless you in your coming in and going out while
you still look upon the sun."

So he blessed me in beautiful and tender words, and kissed me on the
brow, after which he bade me leave him and send the woman to watch him,
because he desired to sleep.

When she looked at him at midnight just as the bells rang in the new
year, he was dead.

According to his wish John Grimmer, the last of that name, was buried by
the bones of his forgotten wife and child, who had left the world over
fifty years before, in the chancel of that church in the Cheap which
was within a stone's throw of his dwelling house. By his desire also
the funeral was without pomp, yet many came to it, some of them of high
distinction, although the day was cold and snowy. I noted, moreover, the
deference they showed to me who by now was known to be his heir, even
if they had never spoken with me before, as was the case with certain
of them, taking occasion to draw me aside and say that they trusted that
their ancient friendship with my honoured uncle would be continued by
myself.

Afterwards I looked up their names in his private book and found that
one and all of those who had spoken thus owed moneys to his estate.

When the will was sworn and I found myself the master of many legions,
or rather of more money, land, and other wealth than I had ever dreamed
of, at first I was minded to be rid of trade and to take up my abode
upon one or other of my manors, where I might live in plenty for the
rest of my days. In the end, however, I did not do so, partly because
I shrank fr