S。Whydon’tyouspeak，John？ShallIsayTuesdayfortnight？
Whydon’tyouanswer？GoodGod，John，whathashappened？”
JohnSedleysprangupoutofhischairtomeethiswife，whorantohim。Heseizedherinhisarms，andsaidwithahastyvoice，“We’reruined，Mary。We’vegottheworldtobeginoveragain，dear。It’sbestthatyoushouldknowall，andatonce。”Ashespoke，hetrembledineverylimb，andalmostfell。Hethoughtthenewswouldhaveoverpoweredhiswife——hiswife，towhomhehadneversaidahardword。Butitwashethatwasthemostmoved，suddenastheshockwastoher。Whenhesankbackintohisseat，itwasthewifethattooktheofficeofconsoler。Shetookhistremblinghand，andkissedit，andputitroundherneck：shecalledhimherJohn——herdearJohn——heroldman——herkindoldman；shepouredoutahundredwordsofincoherentloveandtenderness；herfaithfulvoiceandsimplecaresseswroughtthissadheartuptoaninexpressibledelightandanguish，andcheeredandsolacedhisover-burdenedsoul。
Onlyonceinthecourseofthelongnightastheysatetogether，andpoorSedleyopenedhispent-upsoul，andtoldthestoryofhislossesandembarrassments——thetreasonofsomeofhisoldestfriends，themanlykindnessofsome，fromwhomhenevercouldhaveexpectedit——inageneralconfession——onlyoncedidthefaithfulwifegivewaytoemotion。
“MyGod，myGod，itwillbreakEmmy’sheart。”shesaid。