I  prayed  with  tears  to  do  it.  I  never  laid  my  head
down  on  my  pillow,  but  I  thought  of  Alfred's  own
words,  on  the  day  of  his  departure,  and  how  truly  he
had  said  (for  I  knew  that,  knowing  you)  that  there  were
victories  gained  every  day,  in  struggling  hearts,  to  whidi
these  fields  of  battle  were  as  nothing.  Thinking  more
and  more  upon  the  great  endurance  cheerfully  sustained,
and  never  known  or  cared  for,  that  there  must  be,  every
day  and  hour,  in  that  great  strife  of  which  he  spoke,  my
trial  seemed  to  grow  light  and  easy.  And  He  who
knows  our  hearts,  my  dearest,  at  this  moment,  and  who
knows  there  is  no  drop  of  bitterness  or  grief —  of  any-
thing but  unmixed  happiness  —  in  mine,  enabled  me  to
make  the  resolution  that  I  never  would  be  Alfred's  wife.
That  he  should  be  my  brother,  and  your  husband,  if  the
course  I  took  could  bring  that  happy  end  to  pass ;  bat
that  I  never  would  (Grace,  I  then  loved  him  dearly,
dearly !  )  be  his  wife  ! "

"  0  Marion  1  O  Marion  ! "

'^I  had  tried  to  seem  indifferent  to  him;'^  and  &lie
pressed  her  sister's  face  against  her  own  ;  "but  that  was
hard,  and  you  were  always  his  true  advocate.  I  had
tried  to  tell  you  of  my  resolution,  but  you  would  never
hear  me ;  you  would  never  understand  me.  The  time
was  drawing  near  for  his  return.  I  felt  that  I  must  act,
before  the  daily  intercourse  between  us  was  renewed.
