Her husband would be home on Christmas Eve; his work at Lewes would be finished by then, and he hoped to find work nearer home.

Poor Mary told me this with tears in her eyes; her one prayer was that she might be spared to see Andrew again.
'He has been a good husband to me, and has kept out of the public-house for the sake of his wife and the children, and I cannot die easy until I have said good-bye to him,' finished the poor woman; but when I repeated this to Mr.Hamilton he shook his head.

'A few hours may take her off any day,' he said; 'it is only a wonder that she has lasted so long.

I believe she is keeping herself alive by the sheer force of her longing to see her husband.

Women are strange creatures, Miss Garston.' My new patient was likely to give me plenty of occupation.