le of Ned's fortune. It amounted to a
little more than 3000 pounds sterling. Having completed the transfer,
Ned counted the surplus left in the bag, and found it to be about 500
pounds. This he secured in a leather purse, and then sat down to write
a letter. The letter was short when finished, but it took him long to
write, for he meditated much during the writing of it, and several times
laid his head on his hands. At last it was completed, put into the box,
and the lid screwed down above it. Then Ned read a chapter in the
Bible, as was his wont, and retired to rest.

Next day Tom and Lizette stood on the wharf to see him embark for
England. Long and earnest was the converse of the two friends, as they
were about to part, probably for ever, and then, for the first time,
they became aware how deep was the attachment which each had formed for
the other. At last the mate of the ship came up, and touched his hat.

"Now, sir, boat's ready, sir; and we don't wish to lose the first of the
ebb."

"Good-bye, Lizette--good-bye, Tom! God be with and bless you, my dear
fellow! Stay, I had almost forgotten. Tom, you will find a box on the
table in my room; you can keep the contents--a letter in it will
explain. Farewell!"

Tom's heart was too full to speak. He squeezed his friend's hand in
silence, and, turning hurriedly round, walked away with Lizette the
instant the boat left the shore.

Late in the evening, Tom and his wife remembered the box, and went
up-stairs to open it. Their surprise at its rich contents may be
imagined. Both at once understood its meaning; and Lizette sat down,
and covered her face with her hands, to hide the tears that flowed,
while her husband read the letter. It ran thus:--

"My Dearest Tom,--You must not be angry with me for leaving this
trifle--it _is_ a trifle compared with the amount of gold I would give
you if I had it. But I need not apologise; the spirit of love in which
it is given demands that it shall be unhesitatingly received in the same
spirit. May God, who has blessed us and protected us in all our
wanderings together, cause your worldly affairs to prosper, and
especially may He bless your soul. Seas and continents may separate us,
but I shall never forget you, Tom, or your dear wife. But I must not
write as if I were saying farewell. I intend this epistle to be the
opening of a correspondence that shall continue as long as we live. You
shall hear from me again