t is enough to say that I began to prepare my
wedding clothes, and Harold went hunting for suitable lodgings in all
his spare moments. The clothes were finished, and the lodgings found,
when a terrible thing happened.

"James had always known all about Harold's affairs. He knew that our
money was lying at the bank, waiting till a good investment was decided
upon. He pretended to have found a safe investment, and he got the money
into his own hands and absconded.

"Ellen confessed afterwards that she had known of her husband's
difficulties for many months. She feigned ignorance of his whereabouts,
but I always believed that she knew more than she told.

"As I said just now, I am not writing a novel; I am telling things in
the plainest way, and in the fewest words. Most people, I daresay, would
have survived the loss of L2000, but our hope was taken from us with the
money. Harold was not strong. He was the kind of man who needs a wife's
love and care, and the thought of our prolonged separation was more than
he could endure. He went about his parish work as usual; no one missed a
kind word because his heart ached, no good deed was left undone because
his hands were tired. And yet, O Harold, how hard it was for you to
labour in those days!

"He carried his cross manfully, although he staggered sometimes under
its weight. And he bore his great wrong with that mighty patience which
he had learnt from his Master.

"It was in the early spring that a sickness broke out among the poorest
of his flock, and Harold had but little leisure. One night he was
summoned from his bed to visit a dying man who prayed that he would
come. And that night, when the bitter east wind smote him and the rain
beat upon him, he heard the Master's call to rest.

"Do not think that I am an unhappy woman. I went down with him to the
very brink of the river--that river which has been a terror unto many,
but had no gloom for him. In those last moments I believe he knew that
we should not be parted long; I see now that he had that swift glimpse
into the future which is sometimes granted to a departing saint. How can
I be unhappy when I am so sure that he is watching for me?

* * * * *

"Ellen sent for me to come to her. She says she has got a death-blow.
James has written, telling her that she must never expect to see him
again. He has deserted her for some one else, leaving her to struggle on
here in poverty with he