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inscription； 〃To my dear Husband；〃 might rest over his heart。
His unhappy wife still lives。 When the farewell lines of her
husband's writing reached her she was incapable of comprehending
them。 The mental prostration which had followed the parting scene
was soon complicated by physical sufferingby fever on the
brain。 To the surprise of all who attended her； she lived through
the shock； recovering with the complete loss of one faculty；
which； in her situation； poor thing； was a mercy and a gain to
herthe faculty of memory。 From that time to this she has never
had the slightest gleam of recollection of anything that happened
before her illness。 In her happy oblivion； the veriest trifles
are as new and as interesting to her as if she was beginning her
existence again。 Under the tender care of the friends who now
protect her； she lives contentedly the life of a child。 When her
last hour comes； may she die with nothing on her memory but the
recollection of their kindness！
THE EIGHTH DAY。
THE wind that I saw in the sky yesterday has come。 It sweeps down
our little valley in angry howling gusts； and drives the heavy
showers before it in great sheets of spray。
There are some people who find a strangely exciting effect
produced on their spirits by the noise； and rush； and tumult of
the elements on a stormy day。 It has never been so with me； and
it is less so than ever now。 I can hardly bear to think of my son
at sea in such a tempest as this。 While I can still get no news
of his ship； morbid fancies beset me which I vainly try to shake
off。 I see the trees through my window bending before the wind。
Are the masts of the good ship bending like them at this moment？
I hear the wash of the driving rain。 Is _he_ hearing the thunder
of the raging waves？ If he had only come back last night！it is
vain to dwell on it； but the thought will haunt meif he had
only come back last night！
I tried to speak cautiously about him again to Jessie； as Owen
had advised me； but I am so old and feeble now that this
ill…omened storm has upset me； and I could not feel sure enough
of my own self…control to venture on matching myself to…day
against a light…hearted； lively girl； with all her wits about
her。 It is so important that I should not betray Georgeit would
be so inexcusable on my part if his interests suffered； even
accidentally； in my hands。
This was a trying day for our guest。 Her few trifling indoor
resources had； as I could see； begun to lose their attractions
for her at last。 If we were not now getting to the end of the
stories； and to the end； therefore； of the Ten Days also； our
chance of keeping her much longer at the Glen Tower would be a
very poor one。
It was； I think； a great relief for us all to be summoned
together this evening for a definite purpose。 The wind had fallen
a little as it got on toward dusk。 To hear it growing gradually
fainter and fainter in the valley below added immeasurably to the
comforting influence of the blazing fire and the cheerful lights
when the shutters were closed for the night。
The number drawn happened to be the last of the seriesTenand
the last also of the stories which I had written。 There were now
but two numbers left in the bowl。 Owen and Morgan had each one
reading more to accomplish before our guest's stay came to an
end； and the manuscripts in the Purple Volume were all exhausted。
〃This new story of mine；〃 I said； 〃is not； like the story I last
read； a narrative of adventure happening to myself； but of
adventures that happened to a lady of my acquaintance。 I was
brought into contact； in the first instance； with one of her male
relatives； and； in the second instance； with the lady herself； by
certain professional circumstances which I need not particularly
describe。 They involved a dry question of wills and title…deeds
in no way connected with this story； but sufficiently important
to interest me as a lawyer。 The case came to trial at the Assizes
on my circuit； and I won it in the face of some very strong
points； very well put； on the other side。 I was in poor health at
the time； and my exertions so completely knocked me up that I was
confined to bed in my lodgings for a week or more〃
〃And the grateful lady came and nursed you； I suppose；〃 said the
Queen of Hearts； in her smart； off…h and way。
〃The grateful lady did something much more natural in her
position； and much more useful in mine；〃 I answered〃she sent
her servant to attend on me。 He was an elderly man； who had been
in her service since the time of her first marriage； and he was
also one of the most sensible and well…informed persons whom I
have ever met with in his station of life。 From hints which he
dropped while he was at my bedside； I discovered for the first
time that his mistress had been unfortunate in her second
marriage； and that the troubles of that period of her life had
ended in one of the most singular events which had happened in
that part of England for many a long day past。 It is hardly
necessary to say that； before I allowed the man to enter into any
particulars； I stipulated that he should obtain his mistress's
leave to communicate what he knew。 Having gained this； and having
further surprised me by mentioning that he had been himself
connected with all the circumstances； he told me the whole story
in the fullest detail。 I have now tried to reproduce it as nearly
as I could in his own language。 Imagine； therefore； that I am
just languidly recovering in bed； and that a respectable elderly
man； in quiet black costume； is sitting at my pillow and speaking
to me in these terms〃
Thus ending my little preface； I opened the manuscript and began
my last story。
BROTHER GRIFFITH'S STORY
of
A PLOT IN PRIVATE LIFE。
CHAPTER I。
THE first place I got when I began going out to service was not a
very profitable one。 I certainly gained the advantage of learning
my business thoroughly； but I never had my due in the matter of
wages。 My master was made a bankrupt； and his servants suffered
with the rest of his creditors
My second situation； however； amply compensated me for my want of
luck in the first。 I had the good fortune to enter the service of
Mr。 and Mrs。 Norcross。 My master was a very rich gentleman。 He
had the Darrock house and lands in Cumberland； an estate also in
Yorkshire； and a very large property in Jamaica； which produced；
at that time and for some years afterward； a great income。 Out in
the West Indies he met with a pretty young lady； a governess in
an English family； and； taking a violent fancy to her； married
her； though she was a good five…and…twenty years younger than
himself。 After the wedding they came to England； and it was at
this time that I was lucky enough to be engaged by them as a
servant。
I lived with my new master and mistress three years。 They had no
children。 At the end of that period Mr。 Norcross died。 He was
sharp enough to foresee that his young widow would marry again；
and he bequeathed his property so that it all went to Mrs。
Norcross first； and then to any children she might have by a
second marriage； and； failing that； to relations and friends of
his ow