hope of meeting me again had sunk
to a dead hope in her by this time. She made no complaint. The bodily
strength that she had gained in these later days had its sympathetic
influence in steadying her mind. When her father once or twice ventured
to ask if she was still thinking of me, she answered quietly that she
had brought herself to share his opinions. She could not doubt that I
had long since ceased to think of her. Even if I had remained faithful
to her, she was old enough now to know that the difference between us in
rank made our union by marriage an impossibility. It would be best (she
thought) not to refer any more to the past, best to forget me, as I had
forgotten her. So she spoke now. So, tried by the test of appearances,
Dame Dermody's confident forecast of our destinies had failed to justify
itself, and had taken its place among the predictions that are never
fulfilled.

The next notable event in the family annals which followed Mary's
illness happened when she had attained the age of nineteen years. Even
at this distance of time my heart sinks, my courage fails me, at the
critical stage in my narrative which I have now reached.

A storm of unusual severity burst over the eastern coast of Scotland.
Among the ships that were lost in the tempest was a vessel bound from
Holland, which was wrecked on the rocky shore near Dermody's place of
abode. Leading the way in all good actions, the bailiff led the way in
rescuing the passengers and crew of the lost ship. He had brought one
man alive to land, and was on his way back to the vessel, when two heavy
seas, following in close succession, dashed him against the rocks.
He was rescued, at the risk of their own lives, by his neighbors. The
medical examination disclosed a broken bone and severe bruises and
lacerations. So far, Dermody's sufferings were easy of relief. But,
after a lapse of time, symptoms appeared in the patient which revealed
to his medical attendant the presence of serious internal injury. In the
doctor's opinion, he could never hope to resume the active habits of
his life. He would be an invalid and a crippled man for the rest of his
days.

Under these melancholy circumstances, the bailiff's employer did
all that could be strictly expected of him, He hired an assistant to
undertake the supervision of the farm work, and he permitted Dermody to
occupy his cottage for the next three months. This concession gave the
poor man time to recover such rel