DEATH IN REALITY. 429 



my heart beat violently when, after a short parley at the gate, I 

 saw who it was that entered and approached the house. It was 

 my father, and he had come to bring news of my uncle news 

 that he was dead. His visit to London had been fruitless, 

 excepting only of harass and fatigue. His banker's failure was 

 complete, and he had been diappointed also of a small living, 

 but of greater value than his own, which had lately fallen 

 vacant, and of which the patron had given him a promise years 

 ago when he did not want it. He was on his way homewards 

 by the coach, when, as he was dismounting at an inn, where 

 the stage stopped, he fell in a fit of apoplexy at the door. He 

 survived only a few speechless hours ; but from papers found 

 about him the people of the inn were enabled to write to his 

 brother, who arrived in time to find him just expired. He had 

 left no will had, indeed, excepting debts, little to bequeath. 

 His remains were laid within the shadow of his own church, 

 beside those of Lucy's mother ; after which my father staid at 

 the parsonage but a few days, employed, as days after death 

 usually are, in the cold curious business of prying into papers 

 and personal effects of the departed, and in forming such new 

 arrangements as death may make requisite for those left' behind. 



My father returned to business, leaving me and Caleb to 

 follow after the latter had seen to the completion of some ar- 

 rangements for the sale (for the benefit of his creditors) of my 

 poor uncle's furniture and effects. His cabinet of insects and a 

 few of the least costly of his books on entomology my father, 

 at my request, contrived to save for me. 



During the week or two which Lucy and! passed together 

 before the day of parting I noticed few comparatively of her 

 threatening symptoms ; and she looked all childish bloom as 

 well as beauty on that December morning. I saw her again 

 on the Easter following the December that we parted, my first 

 holiday from business, when my father allowed me to pay a few 

 days' visit to Dolly's cottage. 



Did I return with renovated hopes or fears confirmed? per- 



