Here the old man drew his hand before his eyes, and remained for some time without speaking; at length he removed his hand, and commenced again with a broken voice:  “You will pardon me if I hurry over this part of my story, I am unable to dwell upon it.  How dwell upon a period when I saw my only earthly treasure pine away gradually day by day, and knew that nothing could save her!  She saw my agony, and did all she could to console me, saying that she was herself quite resigned.  A little time before her death she expressed a wish that we should be united.  I was too happy to comply with her request.  We were united, I brought her to this house, where, in less than a week, she expired in my arms.”

CHAPTER XXXIV

The Old Man’s Story continued—­Misery in the Head—­The Strange Marks—­Tea-dealer from London—­Difficulties of the Chinese Language.

After another pause the old man once more resumed his narration:- “If ever there was a man perfectly miserable it was myself, after the loss of that cherished woman.  I sat solitary in the house, in which I had hoped in her company to realize the choicest earthly happiness, a prey to the bitterest reflections; many people visited, and endeavoured to console me—­amongst them was the clergyman of the parish, who begged me to be resigned, and told me that it was good to be afflicted.  I bowed my head, but I could not help thinking how easy it must be for those who feel no affliction, to bid others to be resigned, and to talk of the benefit resulting from sorrow; perhaps I should have paid more attention to his discourse than I did, provided he had been a person for whom it was possible to entertain much respect, but his own heart was known to be set on the things of this world.

“Within a little time he had an opportunity, in his own case, of practising resignation, and of realizing the benefit of being afflicted.  A merchant, to whom he had entrusted all his fortune, in the hope of a large interest, became suddenly a bankrupt, with scarcely any assets.  I will not say that it was owing to this misfortune that the divine died in less than a month after its occurrence, but such was the fact.  Amongst those who most frequently visited me was my friend the surgeon; he did not confine himself to the common topics of consolation, but endeavoured to impress upon me the necessity of rousing myself, advising me to occupy my mind with some pursuit, particularly recommending agriculture; but agriculture possessed no interest for me, nor, indeed, any pursuit within my reach; my hopes of happiness had been blighted, and what cared I for anything? so at last he thought it best to leave me to myself, hoping that time would bring with it consolation; and I remained solitary in my house, waited upon by a male and a female servant.  Oh, what dreary moments I passed!  My only amusement—­and it was a sad one—­was to look at the things