The greatest trial in her life was now approaching the duchess.  He who had been her support and joy for so many years was to be taken from her.  On the 27th of May, 1836, she was told by the doctors that the duke had only a short time to live.  The terrible news was of course overwhelming, but she knew whither to turn.  “I had not realised till then the hopelessness of the case.  I retired to another room and fell on my knees; and as if they had been audibly uttered, these words were impressed upon my heart, ’Thy Maker is thy Husband; the Lord of hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall He be called,’ and I rose up to meet the trial in His strength.”  The next day the duke died.  Full proof was given of the sufficiency of God to support His servants in their darkest hours.  Two days afterwards she wrote—­“I must tell you of the blessed consolation I have in thinking of the perfect peace which my beloved husband enjoyed uninterruptedly, and the presence of the Comforter from the Father and the Son to my own soul.  Pray for me.  Although I feel indeed in the wilderness, yet like her who was led there, I would desire to lean on the arm of the Beloved One, who has truly given to me ’the valley of Achor for a door of hope,’ and who is a very present help in time of trouble.  The comfort I have is at present almost without alloy.  It is only when earthly things pull me from my resting-place that I see the desolation of all earthly joys; and yet I am not excited, out as the Lord has enabled me to stay my mind on Him, He has kept me in perfect peace.”  When the beloved remains were removed into their last resting-place in Elgin Cathedral, she dedicated herself afresh to God.  “When the coffin was lowered into that vault, I felt as if God had shoved under my feet all that was most dear to me, the only one on earth to whose love I was entitled, and that now I must live to Himself alone.”

After her husband’s death her wish was to return at once to Huntly Lodge, where she had spent the first years of her married life, and which was now hers by the marriage settlement.  But a lease which the tenant was unwilling to resign prevented this for a time.  Accordingly she made up her mind to travel abroad for some months.  During the winter of 1836 she lived at Pau.  The return home was made the following summer.  Naturally she dreaded coming back to the now desolate home—­the same place, but all so changed.  But God was good, and the grace sufficient for the day was given. “Huntly Lodge, 31st August, 1837.—­The Lord has been better to me than all my fears.  Wagstaff (the duke’s factor), accompanied by both Mr. Bigsby (of the English Chapel at Gordon Castle) and Mr. Dewar (minister of Fochabers), received me.  My heart was so full of the Lord’s goodness, that there was no room for bitterness; and after a few moments alone, I could not rest till we had thanked our tender Father; Mr. Bigsby was the organ of our