270 Lights and Shadows of London Life. 



you are upon your pillow again should you awaken ere the morning 

 repeat the supplication. I too will pray for you then, as now God 

 of mercy ! thou that hast promised that the broken and contrite spirit 

 shall not appeal in vain Father of pity and lovingkindness ! deal 

 with thy servant according to thy will ; but ohl protect, support, and 

 bless this stricken flower ! shield, shelter, and defend this stray sheep 

 of thy flock, Almighty Shepherd of our souls, even as thou hast 

 deigned to assure us that thou wilt temper the wind to the shorn 

 lamb !" 



His servant, who was shortly summoned, placed by his master's 

 orders some brandy upon the table of his sleeping-room, and left 

 him for the night. The two apartments which had been selected for 

 Chalcroft's occupation were upon the ground-floor, separated by 

 folding doors, and each opening into the little pleasure-ground by 

 which the cottage was encircled. The morning that succeeded was 

 bright and frosty, the earth in her mantle of driven whiteness, which 

 the early sun spangled with a blaze of radiance, had decked herself 

 in the one gay habit which alone winter's gloomy wardrobe com- 

 prises. Chalcroft's habits were early, so that it created no surprise 

 when his servant, who had been to his room at his usual hour, found 

 it untenanted. It was otherwise, however, when upon subsequently 

 visiting it he discovered that the bed had not been lain in, and that 

 the little favourite terrier, the constant companion of his master's 

 walks, still slept in its accustomed spot close to the bed-side. The 

 room was in perfect order, all his toilet equipage and clothes were 

 arranged in their habitual regularity. In his sitting-room his books 

 lay undisturbed : upon the table his desk stood open it was empty. 

 Its contents had been burnt, the hearth being strewed with ashes of 

 papers which had been but recently consumed upon it. Not a frag- 

 ment remained entire, not a vestige by which his story might be 

 traced who had been the occupant of the chamber. While this 

 melancholy search was made within, the bell of the cottage wicket 

 rang, and a feeble old man entered ; he enquired for no one by 

 name, but asked in a faint and agitated tone to see the lady. That 

 interview was private, but in a few moments after his arrival, he was 

 seen crossing towards the range of downs in the direction of the sea, 

 with all the speed of which his tottering limbs were capable, accom- 

 panied by a female figure closely wrapped in the folds of an ample 

 cloak, at whose feet crept a little dog that seemed moved by the very 

 spirit of the form upon which it attended. The silence of that walk 

 was not broken, as following a trackless path they at length reached 

 an opening formed by a water-course by which the shore might be 

 gained. Upon the beach stood a small group in anxious discourse : 

 it consisted of a few neighbouring fishermen, and the coast-guard 

 patrol then upon duty. It needed but a glance at those who thus 

 approached, to tell that theirs was no ordinary errand. The sym- 

 pathy and respect which sorrow ever claims from the rudest natures, 

 evinced itself in the mute reverence that marked their reception. 

 While the old man questioned, the frail companion of his walk leant 

 on him for support. There was not a heart among that rugged 

 company but stirred with compassion to see the fair bough in the 



