She received him kindly, and thanked him for taking the trouble to come again.  She begged him to be seated; and then, womanlike, she waited for him to explain.

But he was in no hurry, and waited for her.  He knew she would speak if he was silent.

She could not keep him waiting long.  “Mr. Falcon,” said she, hesitating a little, “you have something to say to me about him I have lost.”

“Yes,” said he softly.  “I have something I could say, and I think I ought to say it; but I am afraid:  because I don’t know what will be the result.  I fear to make you more unhappy.”

“Me! more unhappy?  Me, whose dear husband lies at the bottom of the ocean.  Other poor wounded creatures have the wretched comfort of knowing where he lies—­of carrying flowers to his tomb.  But I—­oh, Mr. Falcon, I am bereaved of all:  even his poor remains lost,—­lost”—­she could say no more.

Then that craven heart began to quake at what he was doing; quaked, yet persevered; but his own voice quivered, and his cheek grew ashy pale.  No wonder.  If ever God condescended to pour lightning on a skunk, surely now was the time.

Shaking and sweating with terror at his own act, he stammered out, “Would it be the least comfort to you to know that you are not denied that poor consolation?  Suppose he died not so miserably as you think?  Suppose he was picked up at sea, in a dying state?”

“Ah!”

“Suppose he lingered, nursed by kind and sympathizing hands, that almost saved him?  Suppose he was laid in hallowed ground, and a great many tears shed over his grave?”

“Ah, that would indeed be a comfort.  And it was to say this you came.  I thank you.  I bless you.  But, my good, kind friend, you are deceived.  You don’t know my husband.  You never saw him.  He perished at sea.”

“Will it be kind or unkind, to tell you why I think he died as I tell you, and not at sea?”

“Kind, but impossible.  You deceive yourself.  Ah, I see.  You found some poor sufferer, and were good to him; but it was not my poor Christie.  Oh, if it were, I should worship you.  But I thank you as it is.  It was very kind to want to give me this little, little crumb of comfort; for I know I did not behave well to you, sir:  but you are generous, and have forgiven a poor heart-broken creature, that never was very wise.”

He gave her time to cry, and then said to her, “I only wanted to be sure it would be any comfort to you.  Mrs. Staines, it is true I did not even know his name; nor yours.  When I met, in this very room, the great disappointment that has saddened my own life, I left England directly.  I collected funds, went to Natal, and turned land-owner and farmer.  I have made a large fortune, but I need not tell you I am not happy.  Well, I had a yacht, and sailing from Cape Town to Algoa Bay, I picked up a raft, with a dying man on it.  He was perishing from exhaustion and exposure.  I got a little brandy between his