CHAPTER XIX. THE LETTER

essbeententimeswhattheywere,Icouldnotregrethavingwatchedoverandlabouredtorelievethem—that,ifhehadmarriedaricherwife,misfortunesandtrialswouldnodoubthavecomeuponhimstillwhileIamegotistenoughtoimaginethatnootherwomancouldhavecheeredhimthroughthemsowell:notthatIamsuperiortotherest,butIwasmadeforhim,andheformeandIcannomorerepentthehours,days,yearsofhappinesswehavespenttogether,andwhichneithercouldhavehadwithouttheother,thanIcantheprivilegeofhavingbeenhisnurseinsickness,andhiscomfortinaffliction. “Willthisdo,children?—orshallIsayweareallverysorryforwhathashappenedduringthelastthirtyyears,andmydaughterswishtheyhadneverbeenbornbutsincetheyhavehadthatmisfortune,theywillbethankfulforanytrifletheirgrandpapawillbekindenoughtobestow?” Ofcourse,webothapplaudedourmother’sresolutionMaryclearedawaythebreakfastthingsIbroughtthedesktheletterwasquicklywrittenanddespatchedand,fromthatday,weheardnomoreofourgrandfather,tillwesawhisdeathannouncedinthenewspaperaconsiderabletimeafter—allhisworldlypossessions,ofcourse,beinglefttoourwealthyunknowncousins.