SOUTH AFRICA Before Froude had written the last chapter of The English in Ireland he was visited by the greatest sorrow of his life.

Mrs.Froude died suddenly in February, 1874.

It had been a perfect marriage, and he never enjoyed the same happiness afterwards.

Carlyle and his faithful friend Fitzjames Stephen were the only persons he could see at first, though he manfully completed the book on which he was engaged.

It was long before he rallied from the shock, and he felt as if he could never write again.