rry say what at another time
he would never have dared to say.

"No," he sobbed. "I'll go alone. She doesn't want you. She believes
me, and you don't. She won't speak to _you_." And he rushed from the
room, leaving the doctor far too affected and moved to attempt to stop
him or call him back.

CHAPTER X.

SUNLIGHT.

Ministering friends--Watching--Past all tears--Taken home--The dark
valley.

The summer sunlight lay thick about the room where Mrs Campbell was
dying. There was a square of deep blue sky, edged by the window frame,
glistening before her eyes--eyes that now were lighted up with the
fervour of a holy death--eyes that glowed in sweet anticipation of that
pure light which shines forever on the hills of heaven.

The silence of the room was only broken now and then by the few
soothing words the doctor's wife would say or read. Mrs Valentine sat
on the farther side of the bed, her eyes red with weeping; and, from
time to time, tried to get some nourishment into the poor weak lips,
though she knew well the while that all these tender ministerings were
in vain. It was a lonely death for the dying one, even though she had
these two good friends with her. He who had loved, and loved her
still, so well, could not be there to hear her last words on earth.
She must lay her head in other arms than his, and give up her soul to
God, without a farewell word from him, without one prayer together
uttered, that God would hasten the time of their meeting in that land
where partings are unknown. No! She must die without the presence of
her nearest, dearest one on earth, while he was beating out upon the
great waters of the ocean.

In the morning after Harry had started for school, Mrs Campbell, in a
violent fit of coughing, had broken a blood-vessel. In her present
state this meant speedy and certain death. And Dr Bromley, when he
returned home, after having seen her, had told his wife that Mrs
Campbell could not last more than two or three hours. So, sending at
once to the Grammar-School to request Doctor Palmer to allow Harry to
go home immediately, the tender-hearted Mrs Bromley started for the
farm.

And there she sat reading and speaking words of comfort to the dying
wife, watching and fearing each moment would be the last. She was Mrs
Campbell's only friend save Mrs Valentine. It is true the vicar had
been to visit her several times, but under such painful circumstances
the absence of one