nd the church generally
in the parish to which she belonged. Added to this she had some money
and excellent health, two good things in a minister's wife as everybody
knew.

Mr. Sanford promised his friend to think about it, and then, one
afternoon, walked across the fields to the house among the rocks and
looked again at Hannah, who was twelve years older and graver and
quieter than when she won the love of his young manhood; but there was
something inexpressibly sweet in the pale, sad face, and the large dark
eyes thrilled him as they did of old, so that he found his longing for
her greater, if possible, than ever. But when he said to her, "Hanny,
have you ever regretted your answer to me?" and she replied, "No,
never," he turned away, and, walking back across the fields to his own
home, wrote to his friend in Walpole, signifying his readiness to be
introduced to Miss Martha Adams. The result of this was that Martha had
been his wife for nearly eight years, and ruled him with a rod of iron,
which she, however, sometimes covered, so that he did not feel it quite
so much as he might otherwise have done. But it pressed heavily now, as
in the clear, cold night he walked slowly home through the deep,
untrodden snow, which he scarcely minded, so intent were his thoughts
upon the past and what might have been.

Alas! for the many hearts, aching in secret and sending backward vain
regrets for what might have been, what should have been, but what can
never be. And, if sometimes the heart thus wrung cries out with a great
cry for the happiness it has missed, is there disloyalty to him or her
who stands where another should have stood? God only knows, and He is
far more merciful and ready to forgive his erring children than are they
to forgive each other. And he must have pitied the man who, with a
thought of Hannah thrilling every fiber of his heart, went back to the
home where Martha was waiting impatiently for him, with words of chiding
upon her lips.

He knew it would be so, knew she would sit up for him until morning, if
necessary, and knew, too, that in all probability bowls of herb tea and
a hot foot-bath awaited him, for Martha was careful of his health, and
sometimes oppressive with her attentions, and he sighed as he drew near
his home and saw the light, and thought, "Oh, if she would only go to
bed and leave me alone awhile, and not make me talk."

But she was up and waiting for him, in her purple flannel dressing-