idea, that a word, a look of reconciliation from her, would be received

with joy, and repay long years of severity. Now that the time was gone for

the exercise of such power, she fell at once upon the thorny truth of

things, and felt that neither smile nor caress could penetrate to the

unconscious state, or influence the happiness of her who lay in the vault

beneath. This conviction, together with the remembrance of soft replies to

bitter speeches, of gentle looks repaying angry glances; the perception of

the falsehood, paltryness and futility of her cherished dreams of birth and

power; the overpowering knowledge, that love and life were the true

emperors of our mortal state; all, as a tide, rose, and filled her soul

with stormy and bewildering confusion. It fell to my lot, to come as the

influential power, to allay the fierce tossing of these tumultuous waves. I

spoke to her; I led her to reflect how happy Idris had really been, and how

her virtues and numerous excellencies had found scope and estimation in her

past career. I praised her, the idol of my heart's dear worship, the

admired type of feminine perfection. With ardent and overflowing eloquence,

I relieved my heart from its burthen, and awoke to the sense of a new

pleasure in life, as I poured forth the funeral eulogy. Then I referred to

Adrian, her loved brother, and to her surviving child. I declared, which I

had before almost forgotten, what my duties were with regard to these

valued portions of herself, and bade the melancholy repentant mother

reflect, how she could best expiate unkindness towards the dead, by

redoubled love of the survivors. Consoling her, my own sorrows were

assuaged; my sincerity won her entire conviction.

She turned to me. The hard, inflexible, persecuting woman, turned with a

474

The Last Man