says it aint the same
place with you away. So I remain your friend,

HAM BELFORT.

P.S. I'd like you to give my regards to Eavan, if
he remembers the grist-mill, as I guess likely he
doos. Remember the upper and nether millstones,
Jakey, and the Lord help you threw.

H. B.

It is sometimes the bitterest medicine, Melody, that is the most
strengthening. This was bitter indeed; yet coming at this moment, it
gave me the strength I needed. The sharp sting of this pain dulled in
some measure that other that I suffered; and I had no fear of any
weakness now. I do not count it weakness, that I wept over my poor
father, lying down so quietly to die on the grave of his dear love. In
my distraction, I even thought for a moment how well it was with them
both, to be together now, and wished that death might take me and
another to some place where no foolish things of this world should keep
us apart; but that was a boy's selfish grief, and I was now grown a man.
I read Ham's letter over and over, as well as I could for tears; and it
seemed to me a pure fruit of friendship, so that I gave thanks for him
and Abby, knowing her silent for want of strength, not want of love. I
should still go home, to the friendly place, and the friendly people who
had known my birth and all that had fallen since. I had no place here; I
was in haste to be gone.

At first I thought not to tell Yvon of what had come to me; but he
coming in and finding me as I have said, I would not have him mistake my
feeling, and so gave him the letter. And let me say that a woman could
not have been tenderer than my friend was, in his sympathy and grieving
for me. I have told you that he and my poor father were drawn to each
other from the first. He spoke of him in terms which were no more than
just, but which soothed and pleased me, coming from one who knew
nobility well, both the European sense of it, and the other. Upon this,
Yvon pressed me to stay, declaring that he would go away with me, and we
would travel together, till my hurt was somewhat healed, or at least I
had grown used to the sting of it; but this I could not hear of. He
helped me put my things together, for by this time night was coming on.
He had found his sister so suffering, he told me, that she felt unable
to leave her bed; and so he had thought