"August 3d, 11 P. M.
"Dearest Colin,--The one sound in my ears, the one song in my heart is,
'Let them give thanks.' It is as if we had passed from a dungeon into
sunshine. I suppose it would be too much if you were here to share it.
They sent Rose in first to tell me, but I knew in the sound of their
wheels that all was well. What an evening we have had, but I must not
write more. Ailie is watching me like a dragon, and will not rest till I
am in bed; but I can't tell how to lose one minute of gladness in sleep.
Oh, Colin, Colin, truest of all true knights, what an achievement yours
has been!"
"August 4th.
"That was a crazy bit that I wrote last night, but I will not make away
with it. I don't care how crazy you think me. It would have been a pity
not to have slept to wake to the knowledge that all was not a dream, but
then came the contrast with the sorrow you are watching. And I have just
had your letter. What a sudden close to that joyous life! She was one
of the most winning beings, as you truly say, that ever flashed across
one's course, and if she had faults, they were those of her day and her
training. I suppose, by what you say, that she was too girlish to be all
the companion your brother required, and that this may account for his
being more shocked than sorrow-stricken, and his child, since he can
dwell on the thought, is such a new beginning of hope, that I wonder
less than you do at his bearing up so well. Besides, pain dulls the
feelings, and is a great occupation. I wish you could have seen that
dear Bessie, but I gather that the end came on much more rapidly than
had been expected. It seemed as if she were one of those to whom even
suffering was strangely lightened and shortened, as if she had met only
the flowers of life, and even the thorns and stings were almost lost in
their bright blossoms. And she could hardly have lived on without much
either of temptation or sorrow. I am glad of your testimony to Rachel's
effectiveness, I wrote it out and sent it up to the Homestead. There
was a note this morning requesting Edward to come in to see Maddox, and
Ailie is gone with him, thinking she may get leave to see poor Maria.
Think of writing 'Edward and Ailie again! Dr. Long and Harry are gone
with them. The broken thread is better pieced by Harry than by the
Doctor; but he wants Ailie and me to go and stay at Belfast. Now I must
hear Rose read, in order to bring both her and myself to our reasonable
senses."