There are too many ghosts in my memories for Heaven to lightly add this one more.
She was dying--slowly and peacefully dying, and this was the end of her waiting.

He had returned at last, this husband for whose coming she had watched so long.

He had returned at last, after all his labour, and had been laid at her feet a dead man.

She was free to go and join her love.

To me, child as I was, this was sorely cruel.
Death, as I know now, is very merciful even when he seems most merciless, but as I sat and watched the dear life slowly drift away from me, it was a hard matter to understand.
The pale sunlight came, and flickered, and went; but she lay to all seeming unchanged.