A second time I tried to read the inscription. I saw at the end the date of her death, and above it⁠—

Above it there were lines on the marble⁠—there was a name among them which disturbed my thoughts of her. I went round to the other side of the grave, where there was nothing to read, nothing of earthly vileness to force its way between her spirit and mine.

I knelt down by the tomb. I laid my hands, I laid my head on the broad white stone, and closed my weary eyes on the earth around, on the light above. I let her come back to me. Oh, my love! my love! my heart may speak to you now ! It is yesterday again since we parted⁠—yesterday, since your dear hand lay in mine⁠—yesterday, since my eyes looked their last on you. My love! my love!

Time had flowed on, and silence had fallen like thick night over its course.