It might be better for him now, if only he could bring himself to some
softness of heart. Softly she closed the door, and placing the candle on
the mantle-shelf, softly she knelt beside him, and softly touched his
hand with hers. He did not stir nor utter a single word, but seemed to
clutch at his thin locks more violently than before. Then she kneeling
there, aloud, but with a low voice, with her thin hands clasped, uttered
a prayer in which she asked her God to remove from her husband the
bitterness of that hour. He listened till she had finished, and then
rose slowly to his feet. 'It is in vain,' said he, 'it is all in vain.
It is all in vain.' Then he returned back to the parlour, and seating
himself again in the arm-chair, remained there without speaking till
past midnight. At last, when she told him that she herself was very
cold, and reminded him that for the last hour there had been no fire,
still speechless, he went up with her to their bed.

Early on the following morning she contrived to let him know that she
was about to send a neighbour's son over with a note to Mr Walker,
fearing to urge him further to change his mind; but hoping that he might
express his purpose of doing so when he heard that the letter was to be
sent; but he took no notice whatever of her words. At this moment he was
reading Greek with his daughter, or rather rebuking her because she
could not be induced to read her Greek.

'Oh, papa,' the poor girl said, 'don't scold me now. I am so unhappy
because of all of this.'

'And am I not unhappy?' he said, as he closed the book. 'My God, what
have I done against thee, that my lines should be cast in such terrible
places?'