but rather a sense of infinite calm. The thought of her
husband, so long a daily torture and irritation, was now a sacred
memory--the last few hours had been to her the renewal of her marriage
vows, to which death had brought only a fuller ratification, after
life's long divorce. She was very weak and weary; and but for the child
beside her, would have been glad to enter herself that unseen world
whose gates seemed so near, and to have rested there; but it was not
time yet. So she lay and thought, calmly and soberly, till she too
dropped asleep.

She kept in her room all day till quite evening. Mr. Bellairs had
undertaken to make all the needful arrangements, and it was not
necessary that any one should know that the real direction of affairs
rested with her. Her first occupation was to write to Mr. Strafford,
telling him of Christian's death, and of her own wish, that the body
should be taken to Moose Island for burial. It would have to be removed
as soon as possible from the jail, and she desired that it might be
carried at once to her old home, where she and Lucia would be ready to
receive it. This letter was sent off by a special messenger; but as
there could be no doubt of the answer, all went on at Cacouna as if it
had already arrived. In the evening, when Mrs. Costello came down to
join the rest of the family in the drawing-room, she had changed little
of her usual gentle manner. There might be a deeper shade of gravity,
but she was not, and did not appear, sad. Lucia and Bella were sitting
together, talking softly. They had been speaking of the last few
months--not saying much--but growing into a closer sympathy with each
other, as they understood how great had been their community of sorrow,
than they had ever felt in the unclouded years of their girlish
friendship. It was long since Lucia had given up her fancies about
Bella's marriage. The shock of her widowhood had shaken off all the gay
affectations of the bride and brought her within the comprehension of
Lucia's steadier and more transparent nature. And now that the secret
which had stood so grimly between them was told, nothing remained to
spoil the comfort of their intercourse.

Except its shortness. While they talked, an occasional sentence spoken
by one or other of the elder group reached their ears, and once they
stopped their conversation to listen. Mrs. Costello was saying, in
answer to some question--

"To France, I think. Indeed I am sure we s