realised, with a desolate feeling at the heart, that I was alone
in the world. It was true I had many and good friends, and I was
blessed with interests and occupations which I had often declared
sufficient to satisfy any not too exacting human being.
Moreover, a small but sufficient competency was mine, allowing me
reasonable comforts, and the luxuries of a small but choice
library, and a small but choice garden. These heavenly blessings
had seemed mere than enough for nearly five years, during which
the good sister and I had kept house together, leading a life of
tranquil happy days. Friends and books and flowers! It was, we
said, a good world, and I, simpleton,--pretty and dainty as
Margaret was,--deemed it would go on forever. But, alas! one day
came a Faust into our garden,--a good Faust, with no friend
Mephistopheles,--and took Margaret from me. It is but a month
since they were married, and the rice still lingers in the
crevices of the pathway down to the quaint old iron-work gate.
Yes! they have gone off to spend their honeymoon, and Margaret
has written to me twice to say how happy they are together in the
Hesperides. Dear happiness! Selfish, indeed, were he who would
envy you one petal of that wonderful rose--Rosa Mundi--God has
given you to gather.

But, all the same, the reader will admit that it must be lonely
for me, and not another sister left to take pity on me, all
somewhere happily settled down in the Fortunate Isles.

Poor lonely old house! do you, too, miss the light step of your
mistress? No longer shall her little silken figure flit up and
down your quiet staircases, no more deck out your silent rooms
with flowers, humming the while some happy little song.