"Home, sweet home," was then sung with a most joyful appreciation of it by this trio. From this they passed to the happy sequel, when, all pain and sorrow ceased, and separations known no more, a blest reunion awaits us, and sung "The better land." When they reached the lines,
"Then those who meet shall part no more,
And those long parted meet again,"
Walter chimed in to complete the family circle though somewhat to impair the melodious symphony of sounds, not having so good a voice as the others. They closed with the hymn,
"Spirit, leave thy house of clay;
Lingering dust, resign thy breath;"
When singing the last line Mr. Claremont felt a sharp pain through his temples, but did not speak of it, and they retired for the night;—Walter, to dream of new triumphs;—Rosalind, to meditate upon this evening's enjoyment, and picture to herself new realms of thought which lured her on, till, lost in rapture, life rose before her as one grand panoramic scene, upon which she would leave no trace of imperfection to mar its beauty, no discordant background to impair its imposing sublimity. Little did she dream that the web of Fate had so closely entangled in her delicate network every cherished anticipation of the future, and every prompting of a noble ambition; that only from the purified incense of a love sanctified through suffering, would she walk victor-crowned as one of the heroic band who have learned to say trustingly, "The Father's will be done," ere permitted to rise higher.
