"She said 'Yes' before I had stuttered out my little speech." "I couldn't bear to see you in such an agony of pain," blushingly replied his happy little wife.
Ah, well, Tom deserves his happiness, because he makes those around him happy.
Simon Slowden lives with Gertrude and me.

He declared that he couldn't bear the idea of leaving us, after he'd gone through so much to bring us together.

We are not sorry for this, for he has been an incalculable help to me in many ways.

But for him, perhaps, I should never have the treasure I now possess, the truest and noblest wife God ever gave to man; but for him, I might have dragged out my weary life, disappointed and almost broken-hearted.

Of course this might not be so; but I know that Simon was one of my greatest helpers in making me the happiest man on earth.
I will close my story with a secret.