“Speak to me, oh, once again, but once more, Herbert!” exclaimed Percy.  Fearful agony was in his voice, but, oh, it could not rouse the dead:  Herbert Hamilton had departed.  His last wish on earth was fulfilled.  It was but the lifeless form of his beloved brother that Percy held in the stern grasp of despairing woe.  It was long ere the truth was known, and when it was, there was no sound of wailing heard within the chamber, no cry of sorrow broke the solemn stillness.  For him they could not weep, and for themselves, oh, it was a grief too deep for tears.

* * * * *

We will not linger on the first few weeks that passed over the inmates of Oakwood after the death of one we have followed so long, and beheld so fondly and deservedly beloved.  Silent and profound was that sorrow, but it was the sorrow of those who, in all things, both great and small, beheld the hand of a God of love.  Could the faith, the truth, which from her girlhood’s years had distinguished Mrs. Hamilton, desert her now?  Would her husband permit her to look to him for support and consolation under this deep affliction, and yet not find it?  No; they looked up to their God; they rejoiced that so peaceful, so blessed had been the death of their beloved one.  His last words to them came again and again on the heart of each parent as soothing balm, of which nor time nor circumstance could deprive them.  For the sake of each other, they exerted themselves, an example followed by their children; but each felt years must pass ere the loss they had sustained would lose its pang, ere they could cease to miss the being they had so dearly loved, who had been such a brilliant light in their domestic circle—­brilliant, yet how gentle; not one that was ever sparkling, ever changing, but of a soft and steady lustre.  On earth that light had set, but in heaven it was dawning never to set again.

For some few weeks the family remained all together, as far at least as Arthur’s ministerial duties permitted.  Mr. Hamilton wished much to see that living, now vacant by the death of his son, transferred to Myrvin, and he exerted himself towards effecting an exchange.  Ere, however, Percy could return to the Continent, or Emmeline return to her husband’s home, the sudden and alarming illness of Mrs. Hamilton detained them both at Oakwood.  The fever which had been raging in the village, and which had hastened the death of Herbert, had also entered the household of Mrs. Hamilton.  Resolved that no affliction of her own should interfere with those duties of benevolence, to exercise which was her constant practice, Mrs. Hamilton had compelled herself to exertion beyond the strength of a frame already wearied and exhausted by long-continued but forcibly-suppressed anxiety, and three weeks after the death of her son she too was stretched on a bed of suffering, which, for the first few days during the violence of the fever, her afflicted family believed might also be of death.