I remained behind to search for a larger house in Guildford.
That was the 15th of August, 1896.

Three days later, when my wife and Clara were about half-way across the ocean, I was standing in our dining-room thinking of nothing in particular, when a cablegram was put into my hand.

It said, "Susy was peacefully released to-day." It is one of the mysteries of our nature that a man, all unprepared, can receive a thunder-stroke like that and live.

There is but one reasonable explanation of it.

The intellect is stunned by the shock, and but gropingly gathers the meaning of the words.