She _was_ praying for life and length of days, with strength to make Harold as happy as he ought to be, and was thinking of and planning all she meant to do for him when once they were married.

First to Europe, where she would be so proud to show him the places she had seen, and where Jerrie would be with them, for in all her plans Jerrie had almost as prominent a place as herself.
'I am nothing without Jerrie,' she thought 'She keeps me up, and Jerrie will live with us, and Mrs.Crawford; that makes four, just enough for a nice game of whist in long winter evenings, when it is so cold outside but warm and bright within--always bright for Harold, whose life has been so full of care and toil.

Poor boy! how I pitied his great warm hand when it was holding mine so lovingly, and how I could have kissed every seam and scar upon it.

But by and by his hands shall be white like Tom's, though not so soft.

I hate a hand which feels like a fluff of cotton.