Lastly he presented her with a valuable set of diamonds that had
belonged to his mother, saying he might not be alive to do so when the
time of her marriage came, and dismissed her with his blessing.

In due course all these tidings, including that of the diamonds, came
to the ears of Aunt Thompson, and wondrously softened that lady's anger.
Indeed, she wrote to Barbara in very affectionate terms, to wish her
every happiness and say how glad she was to hear that she was settling
herself so well in life. She added that she should make a point of being
present at the wedding. A postscript informed her that Mr. Russell was
about to be married to an Italian countess, a widow.

Barbara's wedding was fixed for October. At the beginning of that month,
however, Anthony was seized with some unaccountable kind of illness, in
which coughing played a considerable part. So severe were its effects
that it was thought desirable to postpone the ceremony. The doctor
ordered him away for a change of air. On the morning of his departure he
spoke seriously to Barbara.

"I don't know what is the matter with me," he said, "and I don't think
it is very much at present. But, dear, I have a kind of presentiment
that I am going to become an invalid. My strength is nothing like
what it was, and at times it fails me in a most unaccountable manner.
Barbara, it breaks my heart to say it, but I doubt whether you ought to
marry me."

"If you were going to be a permanent invalid, which I do not believe for
one moment," answered Barbara steadily, "you would want a nurse, and who
could nurse you so well as your wife? Therefore unless you had ceased to
care for me, I should certainly marry you."