Indeed, I am entirely ignorant as to whether he is now alive or dead.

For years I have neither heard of him nor seen him." Eugenia wept bitterly when Mrs.Gaston ceased speaking.

She did not reply, but sat for a long time with her hand partly concealing her face, her whole body trembling nervously, and the tears falling fast from her eyes.

From this excitement and agitation, consequent upon a reference to the past, she gradually recovered, and then Mrs.Gaston related, in turn, her trials and afflictions since their separation so many years before.

These we will not now record for the reader, but hurry on to the conclusion of our narrative.
By a union of their efforts, Mrs.Gaston and Eugenia were enabled, though to do so required them to toil with unremitting diligence, to secure more comforts--to say nothing of the mutual strength and consolation they received from each other--than either could have possibly obtained alone.