Then, in the most composed manner, she dictated to Sister Mary a
letter to her mother, narrating all which had occurred since her
previous letter, including an account of the accident.

This done, the heroic girl prepared to pass whatever of life remained
to her in pious conversation with Sister Mary, and advice and comfort
to poor old Rachel, the negro woman, who hung over her, constantly
weeping.

As it became apparent that dissolution was close at hand, Sister Mary
asked Miss Arnold:

"Agnes, is there any matter relating to your worldly affairs that you
have not already thought of, or that you wish attended to."

"No, Sister, I believe not. Ah, yes, there is," she quickly added; "I
would ask, that when I am gone, you will put my poor body in a grave
immediately beside that of Mr. Harkness. He was my intended husband,
and died only a short time ago with the fever. Also, will you add a
postscript to mother's letter, and say to her that it was my dying
wish, that if she lives, she will at some future time have us both
taken up and brought home, and bury us in one grave there?"

"Indeed, I will do so. Is there nothing else, Agnes?"

There was a great sadness in her voice as Sister Mary asked this, just
as though, years agone, when her own face was young and pretty, and
her own heart happy and free, she had been loved and had lost her love
in the grave.