of King's College, London. She also gave hearty assistance and
furtherance to the opening of a similar institution in Bedford Square by
the Professors of the University College, Gower Street. She was one of
those who gave earnest and deep thought to the difficult problems of
life, who was willing to work to the uttermost of her power, to give
all that she had,--time, money, health, even life itself, if only she
might aid in raising the condition of women and establishing them as
"joint heirs of the grace of life."

No one has ever worked more ardently, more enthusiastically than she
did. Over women younger than herself she exercised an irresistible
fascination. Her courage, her hopefulness, her high and lofty aims,
carried others as by a mighty wave over obstacles that had seemed
insurmountable. She was a few years older than Bessie, had full
experience of all the best that life can give, and also of the deepest
sorrows. Those who have seen her will recall the slight graceful figure,
broad low brow, and eyes youthful and beautiful like a child's; eyes,
with love and trust and happiness looking out from them. And at this
very time she was suffering from an incurable malady, and enduring
martyrdom with heroic fortitude and without one murmur.

Such a friend for Bessie and at such a time marks an epoch in her life.
The dear sister Mary was now married, and Mary had also seen with
heart-felt sorrow that the condition of her blind sister was inevitably
and painfully changed. On a subsequent visit to her old home it was she
who first suggested that Bessie should give her time and money for the
benefit of the blind. She urged that instead of being laid aside as
useless it might be that God was preparing her for a great work on
behalf of others.

Miss Bathurst was at the same time laying before Bessie the duty and
the privilege of a career of some kind, telling of her own labours
amongst the poor, and doing all that was possible to loving sympathy in
order to stimulate and encourage her.

By degrees the dark cloud of depression passed away. It was to gather
again and again during the course of her life, to blot out sun and sky
and present happiness, but never to settle down into despairing
incurable gloom.

Bessie heard from Miss Bathurst much of the poor in London, of their
troubles, and of their poverty. Her own sympathies naturally led her to
consider the condition of the blind poor. She began to make inquiry as
to th