The poor dying girl found all the tenderest offices of love and friendship anticipated.
Except heaven she had scarcely anything to wish for.

But who can even imagine the hopeless agony of her father's soul?
She had been the single remaining plank which bore him through a troubled ocean to a calm and delightful harbor; but now she is going down, leaving him to struggle, weak and exhausted for a little, and then the same dark waves will cover them both.
At length the dreadful hour arrived--the last slight spasm of death was over, and her spotless soul passed into heaven from the bereaved arms of her hopeless and distracted father, who was reduced by the depth and wildness of despair to a state of agony which might wring compassion from a demon.
On the morning of her interment, Alice, completely prostrated by excess of grief and watching, was assisted to bed, being unable to accomplish even the short distance to her father's house, and for nearly a fortnight serious doubts were entertained of her recovery.

Her constitution, however, though not naturally strong, enabled her to rally, and in three weeks' time she was barely able to go home to her family.

On the day following Mr.Hamilton called to see her--a task to which, under the dreadful weight of his sorrow, he was scarcely equal.
He said he considered it, however, his duty, and he accordingly went.
His visit, too, was very short, nor had he much to say, and it was well he had not; for he could by no exertion have summoned sufficient fortitude for a lengthened conversation on a subject arising from the loss of a child so deeply beloved.
"Alice," said he, "I know the arrangement entered into between you--and--and--" Here he was overcome, and could not for a few minutes maintain sufficient calmness to proceed, and poor Alice was almost as deeply affected as himself.

At last he strove to go on.
"You know," he resumed, "the agreement I allude to.