With a sigh he went away, and she took up the letters and began to read them.  Many were from strangers, and they greatly cheered and encouraged her; but finally she opened one, whose superscription had until this instant escaped her cursory glance.  It was from Mr. Hammond, and contained an account of Mr. Murray’s ordination.  She read and re-read it, with a half-bewildered expression in her countenance, for the joy seemed far too great for credence.  She looked again at the date and signature, and passing her hand over her brow, wondered if there could be any mistake.  The paper fell into her lap, and a cry of delight rang through the room.

“Saved—­purified—­consecrated henceforth to God’s holy work?  A minister of Christ?  O most merciful God!  I thank Thee!  My prayers are answered with a blessing I never dared to hope for, or even to dream of!  Can I ever, ever be grateful enough?  A pastor, holding up pure hands!  Thank God! my sorrows are all ended now; there is no more grief for me.  Ah! what a glory breaks upon the future!  What though I never see his face in this world?  I can be patient indeed; for now I know, oh!  I know that I shall surely see it yonder!”

She sank on her knees at the open window, and wept for the first time since Felix died.  Happy, happy tears mingled with broken words of rejoicing, that seemed a foretaste of heaven.

Her heart was so full of gratitude and exultation that she could not sleep, and she sat down and looked over the sea while her face was radiant and tremulous.  The transition from patient hopelessness and silent struggling—­this most unexpected and glorious fruition of the prayers of many years—­was so sudden and intoxicating, that it completely unnerved her.

She could not bear this great happiness as she had borne her sorrows, and now and then she smiled to find tears gushing afresh from her beaming eyes.

Once, in an hour of sinful madness, Mr. Murray had taken a human life, and ultimately caused the loss of another; but the waves that were running high beyond the mole told her in thunder-tones that he had saved, had snatched two lives from their devouring rage.  And the shining stars overhead grouped themselves into characters that said to her, “Judge not, that ye be not judged”; and the ancient mountains whispered, “Stand still, and see the salvation of God!” and the grateful soul of the lonely woman answered: 

  “That all the jarring notes of life
   Seem blending in a psalm,
   And all the angels of its strife
   Slow rounding into calm.”

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Immediately after her return to New York, Edna resumed her studies with renewed energy, and found her physical strength recruited and her mind invigorated by repose.  Her fondness for Hattie induced her to remain with Mrs. Andrews in the capacity of governess, though her position in the family had long ceased to resemble in any respect that of a hireling.  Three hours of each day were devoted to the education of the little girl, who, though vastly inferior in mental endowments to her brother, was an engaging and exceedingly affectionate child, fully worthy of the love which her gifted governess lavished upon her.  The remainder of her time Edna divided between study, music, and an extensive correspondence, which daily increased.