It?s the angels,??it?s the trumpet sound afore the break o? day,?? said Tom, quoting from a favorite hymn This dialogue passed between Miss Ophelia and Tom, between ten and eleven, one evening, after her arrangements had all been made for the night, when, on going to bolt her outer door, she found Tom stretched along by it, in the outer verandah She was not nervous or impressible; but the solemn, heart-felt manner struck herEva had been unusually bright and cheerful, that afternoon, and had sat raised in her bed, and looked over all her little trinkets and precious things, and designated the friends to whom she would have them given; and her manner was more animated, and her voice more natural, than they had known it for weeksHer father had been in, in the evening, and had said that Eva appeared more like her former self than ever she had done since her sickness; and when he kissed her for the night, he said to Miss Ophelia,??Cousin, we may keep her with us, after all; she is certainly better;? and he had retired with a lighter heart in his bosom than he had had there for weeks But at midnight,?strange, mystic hour!?when the veil between the frail present and the eternal future grows thin,?then came the messenger! There was a sound in that chamber, first of one who stepped quicklyIt was Miss Ophelia, who had resolved to sit up all night with her little charge, and who, at the turn of the night, had discerned what experienced nurses significantly call ?a change The outer door was quickly opened, and Tom, who was watching outside, was on the alert, in a moment ?Go for the doctor, Tom! lose not a moment,? said Miss Ophelia; and, stepping across the room, she rapped at St ?Cousin,? she said, ?I wish you would come Those words fell on his heart like clods upon a coffinWhy did they? He was up and in the room in an instant, and bending over Eva, who still slept What was it he saw that made his heart stand still? Why was no word spoken between the two? Thou canst say, who hast seen that same expression on the face dearest to thee;?that look indescribable, hopeless, unmistakable, that says to thee that thy beloved is no longer thine On the face of the child, however, there was no ghastly imprint,?only a high and almost sublime expression,?the overshadowing presence of spiritual natures, the dawning of immortal life in that childish soul They stood there so still, gazing upon her, that even the ticking of the watch seemed too loudIn a few moments, Tom returned, with the doctorHe entered, gave one look, and stood silent as the rest ?When did this change take place?? said he, in a low whisper, to Miss Ophelia ?About the turn of the night,? was the reply Marie, roused by the entrance of the doctor, appeared, hurriedly, from the next room ?Augustine! Cousin!?O!?what!? she hurriedly beganClare, hoarsely; ?she is dying!? Mammy heard the words, and flew to awaken the servantsThe house was soon roused,?lights were seen, footsteps heard, anxious faces thronged the verandah, and looked tearfully through the glass doors; but StClare heard and said nothing,?he saw only that look on the face of the little sleeper ?O, if she would only wake, and speak once more!? he said; and, stooping over her, he spoke in her ear,??Eva, darling!? The large blue eyes unclosed?a smile passed over her face;?she tried to raise her head, and to speak ?Do you know me, Eva?? ?Dear papa,? said the child, with a last effort, throwing her arms about his neckIn a moment they dropped again; and, as StClare raised his head, he saw a spasm of mortal agony pass over the face,?she struggled for breath, and threw up her little hands ?O, God, this is dreadful!? he said, turning away in agony, and wringing Tom?s hand, scarce conscious what he was doing?O, Tom, my boy, it is killing me!? Tom had his master?s hands between his own; and, with tears streaming down his dark cheeks, looked up for help where he had always been used to look ?Pray that this may be cut short!? said StClare,??this wrings my heart ?O, bless the Lord! it?s over,?it?s over, dear Master!? said Tom; ?look at her The child lay panting on her pillows, as one exhausted,?the large clear eyes rolled up and fixedAh, what said those eyes, that spoke so much of heaven! Earth was past,?and earthly pain; but so solemn, so mysterious, was the triumphant brightness of that face, that it checked even the sobs of sorrowThey pressed around her, in breathless stillness ?O, Eva, tell us what you see! What is it?? said her father A bright, a glorious smile passed over her face, and she said, brokenly,??O! love,?joy,?peace!? gave one sigh and passed from death unto life! ?Farewell, beloved child! the bright, eternal doors have closed after thee; we shall see thy sweet face no moreO, woe for them who watched thy entrance into heaven, when they shall wake and find only the cold gray sky of daily life, and thou gone forever!? 1 ?Weep Not for Those,? a poem by Thomas Moore (1779-1852) Chapter 27 ?This Is the of Earth?1 The statuettes and pictures in Eva?s room were shrouded in white napkins, and only hushed breathings and muffled footfalls were heard there, and the light stole in solemnly through windows partially darkened by closed shop blinds

But at midnight,?strange, mystic hour!?when the veil between the frail present and the eternal future grows thin,?then came the messenger! There was a sound in that chamber, first of one who stepped quicklyIt was Miss Ophelia, who had resolved to sit up all night with her little charge, and who, at the turn of the night, had discerned what experienced nurses significantly call ?a change The outer door was quickly opened, and Tom, who was watching outside, was on the alert, in a moment ?Go for the doctor, Tom! lose not a moment,? said Miss Ophelia; and, stepping across the room, she rapped at St ?Cousin,? she said, ?I wish you would come Those words fell on his heart like clods upon a coffinWhy did they? He was up and in the room in an instant, and bending over Eva, who still slept What was it he saw that made his heart stand still? Why was no word spoken between the two? Thou canst say, who hast seen that same expression on the face dearest to thee;?that look indescribable, hopeless, unmistakable, that says to thee that thy beloved is no longer thine On the face of the child, however, there was no ghastly imprint,?only a high and almost sublime expression,?the overshadowing presence of spiritual natures, the dawning of immortal life in that childish soul They stood there so still, gazing upon her, that even the ticking of the watch seemed too loudIn a few moments, Tom returned, with the doctorHe entered, gave one look, and stood silent as the rest ?When did this change take place?? said he, in a low whisper, to Miss Ophelia ?About the turn of the night,? was the reply Marie, roused by the entrance of the doctor, appeared, hurriedly, from the next room ?Augustine! Cousin!?O!?what!? she hurriedly beganClare, hoarsely; ?she is dying!? Mammy heard the words, and flew to awaken the servantsThe house was soon roused,?lights were seen, footsteps heard, anxious faces thronged the verandah, and looked tearfully through the glass doors; but StClare heard and said nothing,?he saw only that look on the face of the little sleeper ?O, if she would only wake, and speak once more!? he said; and, stooping over her, he spoke in her ear,??Eva, darling!? The large blue eyes unclosed?a smile passed over her face;?she tried to raise her head, and to speak ?Do you know me, Eva?? ?Dear papa,? said the child, with a last effort, throwing her arms about his neckIn a moment they dropped again; and, as StClare raised his head, he saw a spasm of mortal agony pass over the face,?she struggled for breath, and threw up her little hands ?O, God, this is dreadful!? he said, turning away in agony, and wringing Tom?s hand, scarce conscious what he was doing?O, Tom, my boy, it is killing me!? Tom had his master?s hands between his own; and, with tears streaming down his dark cheeks, looked up for help where he had always been used to look ?Pray that this may be cut short!? said StClare,??this wrings my heart ?O, bless the Lord! it?s over,?it?s over, dear Master!? said Tom; ?look at her The child lay panting on her pillows, as one exhausted,?the large clear eyes rolled up and fixedAh, what said those eyes, that spoke so much of heaven! Earth was past,?and earthly pain; but so solemn, so mysterious, was the triumphant brightness of that face, that it checked even the sobs of sorrowThey pressed around her, in breathless stillness ?O, Eva, tell us what you see! What is it?? said her father A bright, a glorious smile passed over her face, and she said, brokenly,??O! love,?joy,?peace!? gave one sigh and passed from death unto life! ?Farewell, beloved child! the bright, eternal doors have closed after thee; we shall see thy sweet face no moreO, woe for them who watched thy entrance into heaven, when they shall wake and find only the cold gray sky of daily life, and thou gone forever!? 1 ?Weep Not for Those,? a poem by Thomas Moore (1779-1852) Chapter 27 ?This Is the of Earth?1 The statuettes and pictures in Eva?s room were shrouded in white napkins, and only hushed breathings and muffled footfalls were heard there, and the light stole in solemnly through windows partially darkened by closed blinds The bed was draped in white; and there, beneath the drooping angel-figure, lay a little sleeping form,?sleeping never to waken! There she lay, robed in one of the simple white dresses she had been wont to wear when living; the rose-colored light through the curtains cast over the icy coldness of death a warm glowThe heavy eyelashes drooped softly on the pure cheek; the head was turned a little to one side, as if in natural steep, but there was diffused over every lineament of the face that high celestial expression, that mingling of rapture and repose, which showed it was no earthly or temporary sleep, but the long, sacred rest which ?He giveth to his beloved There is no death to such as thou, dear Eva! neither darkness nor shadow of death; only such a bright fading as when the morning star fades in the golden dawnThine is the victory without the battle,?the crown without the conflictClare think, as, with folded arms, he stood there shop gazing

I shall know better in time, and believe me that, though I am not ungrateful now, my gratitude will grow with my understandingYou will let me be like a brother, will you not, for all our lives, for dear Lucy's sake?" "For dear Lucy's sake," I said as we clasped hands"Ay, and for your own sake," he added, "for if a man's esteem and gratitude are ever worth the winning, you have won mine todayIf ever the future should bring to you a time when you need a man's help, believe me, you will not call in vainGod grant that no such time may ever come to you to break the sunshine of your life, but if it should ever come, promise me that you will let me know He was so earnest, and his sorrow was so fresh, that I felt it would comfort him, so I said, "I promise As I came along the corridor I saw MrMorris looking out of a windowHe turned as he heard my footsteps"How is Art?" he saidThen noticing my red eyes, he went on, "Ah, I see you have been comforting himPoor old fellow! He needs itNo one but a woman can help a man when he is in trouble of the heart, and he had no one to comfort him He bore his own trouble so bravely that my heart bled for himI saw the manuscript in his hand, and I knew that when he read it he would realize how much I knew, so I said to him, "I wish I could comfort all who suffer from the heartWill you let me be your friend, and will you come to me for comfort if you need it? You will know later why I speak He saw that I was in earnest, and stooping, took my hand, and raising it to his lips, kissed itIt seemed but poor comfort to so brave and unselfish a soul, and impulsively I bent over and kissed himThe tears rose in his eyes, and there was a momentary choking in his throatHe said quite calmly, "Little girl, you will never forget that true hearted kindness, so long as ever you live!" Then he went into the study to his friend "Little girl!" The very words he had used to Lucy, and, oh, but he proved himself a friend CHAPTER 18 DRSEWARD'S DIARY 30 September-I got home at five o'clock, and found that Godalming and Morris had not only arrived, but had already studied the transcript of the various diaries and letters which Harker had not yet returned from his visit to the carriers' men, of whom DrHennessey had written to meHarker gave us a cup of tea, and I can honestly say that, for the first time since I have lived in it, this old house seemed like homeWhen we had finished, MrsSeward, may I ask a favour? I want to see your patient, MrWhat you have said of him in your diary interests me so much!" She looked so appealing and so pretty that I could not refuse her, and there was no possible reason why I should, so I took her with meWhen I went into the room, I told the man that a lady would like to see him, to which he simply answered, "Why?" "She is going through the house, and wants to see every one in it," I answered "Oh, very well," he said, "let her come in, by all means, but just wait a minute till I tidy up the place His method of tidying was peculiar, he simply swallowed all the flies and spiders in the boxes before I could stop himIt was quite evident that he feared, or was jealous of, some interferenceWhen he had got through his disgusting task, he said cheerfully, "Let the lady come in," and sat down on the edge of his bed with his head down, but with his eyelids raised so that he could see her as she enteredFor a moment I thought that he might have some homicidal intentI remembered how quiet he had been just before he attacked me in my own study, and I took care to stand where I could seize him at once if he attempted to make a spring at her She came into the room with an easy gracefulness which would at once command the respect of any lunatic, for easiness is one of the qualities mad people most respectShe walked over to him, smiling pleasantly, and held out her hand "Good evening, Mr"You see, I know you, for shop Dr

"Ay, and for your own sake," he added, "for if a man's esteem and gratitude are ever worth the winning, you have won mine todayIf ever the future should bring to you a time when you need a man's help, believe me, you will not call in vainGod grant that no such time may ever come to you to break the sunshine of your life, but if it should ever come, promise me that you will let me know He was so earnest, and his sorrow was so fresh, that I felt it would comfort him, so I said, "I promise As I came along the corridor I saw MrMorris looking out of a windowHe turned as he heard my footsteps"How is Art?" he saidThen noticing my red eyes, he went on, "Ah, I see you have been comforting himPoor old fellow! He needs itNo one but a woman can help a man when he is in trouble of the heart, and he had no one to comfort him He bore his own trouble so bravely that my heart bled for himI saw the manuscript in his hand, and I knew that when he read it he would realize how much I knew, so I said to him, "I wish I could comfort all who suffer from the heartWill you let me be your friend, and will you come to me for comfort if you need it? You will know later why I speak He saw that I was in earnest, and stooping, took my hand, and raising it to his lips, kissed itIt seemed but poor comfort to so brave and unselfish a soul, and impulsively I bent over and kissed himThe tears rose in his eyes, and there was a momentary choking in his throatHe said quite calmly, "Little girl, you will never forget that true hearted kindness, so long as ever you live!" Then he went into the study to his friend "Little girl!" The very words he had used to Lucy, and, oh, but he proved himself a friend CHAPTER 18 DRSEWARD'S DIARY 30 September-I got home at five o'clock, and found that Godalming and Morris had not only arrived, but had already studied the transcript of the various diaries and letters which Harker had not yet returned from his visit to the carriers' men, of whom DrHennessey had written to meHarker gave us a cup of tea, and I can honestly say that, for the first time since I have lived in it, this old house seemed like homeWhen we had finished, MrsSeward, may I ask a favour? I want to see your patient, MrWhat you have said of him in your diary interests me so much!" She looked so appealing and so pretty that I could not refuse her, and there was no possible reason why I should, so I took her with meWhen I went into the room, I told the man that a lady would like to see him, to which he simply answered, "Why?" "She is going through the house, and wants to see every one in it," I answered "Oh, very well," he said, "let her come in, by all means, but just wait a minute till I tidy up the place His method of tidying was peculiar, he simply swallowed all the flies and spiders in the boxes before I could stop himIt was quite evident that he feared, or was jealous of, some interferenceWhen he had got through his disgusting task, he said cheerfully, "Let the lady come in," and sat down on the edge of his bed with his head down, but with his eyelids raised so that he could see her as she enteredFor a moment I thought that he might have some homicidal intentI remembered how quiet he had been just before he attacked me in my own study, and I took care to stand where I could seize him at once if he attempted to make a spring at her She came into the room with an easy gracefulness which would at once command the respect of any lunatic, for easiness is one of the qualities mad people most respectShe walked over to him, smiling pleasantly, and held out her hand "Good evening, Mr"You see, I know you, for DrSeward has told me of you He made no immediate reply, but eyed her all over intently with a set frown on his shop face

?Tom,? said his Master, ?this is all real to you!? ?I can jest fairly see it Mas?r,? said Tom ?I wish I had your eyes, Tom ?I wish, to the dear Lord, Mas?r had!? ?But, Tom, you know that I have a great deal more knowledge than you; what if I should tell you that I don?t believe this Bible?? ?O, Mas?r!? said Tom, holding up his hands, with a deprecating gesture ?Wouldn?t it shake your faith some, Tom?? ?Not a grain,? said Tom ?Why, Tom, you must know I know the most ?O, Mas?r, haven?t you jest read how he hides from the wise and prudent, and reveals unto babes? But Mas?r wasn?t in earnest, for sartin, now?? said Tom, anxiouslyI don?t disbelieve, and I think there is reason to believe; and still I don?tIt?s a troublesome bad habit I?ve got, Tom ?If Mas?r would only pray!? ?How do you know I don?t, Tom?? ?Does Mas?r?? ?I would, Tom, if there was anybody there when I pray; but it?s all speaking unto nothing, when I doBut come, Tom, you pray now, and show me how Tom?s heart was full; he poured it out In prayer, like waters that have been long suppressedOne thing was plain enough; Tom thought there was somebody to hear, whether there were or notClare felt himself borne, on the tide of his faith and feeling, almost to the gates of that heaven he seemed so vividly to conceiveIt seemed to bring him nearer to Eva ?Thank you, my boy,? said St?I like to hear you, Tom; but go, now, and leave me alone; some other time, I?ll talk more Tom silently left the room 1 ?This is the last of Earth! I am content,? last words of John Quincy Adams, uttered February 21, 1848 Chapter 28 Reunion Week after week glided away in the StClare mansion, and the waves of life settled back to their usual flow, where that little bark had gone downFor how imperiously, how coolly, in disregard of all one?s feeling, does the hard, cold, uninteresting course of daily realities move on! Still must we eat, and drink, and sleep, and wake again,?still bargain, buy, sell, ask and answer questions,?pursue, in short, a thousand shadows, though all interest in them be over; the cold mechanical habit of living remaining, after all vital interest in it has fled All the interests and hopes of StClare?s life had unconsciously wound themselves around this childIt was for Eva that he had managed his property; it was for Eva that he had planned the disposal of his time; and, to do this and that for Eva,?to buy, improve, alter, and arrange, or dispose something for her,?had been so long his habit, that now she was gone, there seemed nothing to be thought of, and nothing to be done True, there was another life,?a life which, once believed in, stands as a solemn, significant figure before the otherwise unmeaning ciphers of time, changing them to orders of mysterious, untold valueClare knew this well; and often, in many a weary hour, he heard that slender, childish voice calling him to the skies, and saw that little hand pointing to him the way of life; but a heavy lethargy of sorrow lay on him,?he could not ariseHe had one of those natures which could better and more clearly conceive of religious things from its own perceptions and instincts, than many a matter-of-fact and practical ChristianThe gift to appreciate and the sense to feel the finer shades and relations of moral things, often seems an attribute of those whose whole life shows a careless disregard of themHence Moore, Byron, Goethe, often speak words more wisely descriptive of the true religious sentiment, than another man, whose whole life is governed by itIn such minds, disregard of religion is a more fearful treason,?a more deadly sinClare had never pretended to govern himself by any religious obligation; and a certain fineness of nature gave him such an instinctive view of the extent of the requirements of Christianity, that he shrank, by anticipation, from what he felt would be the exactions of his own conscience, if he once did resolve to assume themFor, so inconsistent is human nature, especially in the ideal, that not to undertake a thing at all seems better than to undertake and come shortClare was, in many respects, another manHe read his little Eva?s Bible seriously and honestly; he thought more soberly and practically of his relations to his servants,?enough to make him extremely dissatisfied with both his past and present course; and one thing he did, soon after his return to New Orleans, and that was to commence the legal steps necessary to Tom?s emancipation, which was to be perfected as soon as he could get through the necessary formalitiesMeantime, he attached himself to Tom more and more, every dayIn all the wide world, there was nothing that seemed to remind him so much of Eva; and he would insist on keeping him constantly about him, and, fastidious and unapproachable as he was with regard to his deeper feelings, he almost thought aloud to TomNor would any one have wondered at it, who had seen the expression of affection and devotion with which Tom continually followed his young master ?Well, Tom,? said StClare, the day after he had commenced the legal formalities for his enfranchisement, ?I?m going to make a free man of you;?so have your trunk packed, and get ready to set out for Kentuck The sudden light of joy that shone in Tom?s face as he raised his hands to heaven, his emphatic ?Bless the Lord!? rather discomposed shop St