“But to leave improbable things also. Could you wake up in the morning and find that you had only dreamed her death, and see her by your side—living, beautiful, loving—would you not clasp her to your heart in joy, exclaiming: ‘Oh, dearest wife, I have had such a dreadful dream! It seemed, too, so very real. I dreamed that you were dead, Alice. Thank God, it was nothing but a dream! Now, ask me what you will, Alice, for I am so happy to know I have you yet—to know that you have not gone from my side, but are here—here!—that I can refuse you nothing.’ Would those not be your words and feelings? And what would Alice say—what would Alice ask? What was nearest her heart when she fell asleep? What would she say could she now be restored, and should you ask her what would make her happy, but ‘Father, be reconciled to your daughter!’ General Garnet, the same letter that announced our sudden and mutual bereavement, the letter of that Christian minister, expressed a hope that the hand of Death, which had led our friend away from our midst, leaving us all in a common sorrow, might reunite our hands in amity. General Garnet, that hope is my prayer. I entreat you, take my hand!” General Garnet recoiled a step, and answered scornfully: “Sir, I know you for an orator of old. But if you hope to work upon my feelings through the sorrow of my recent and very sudden loss, you deceive yourself. And now, hear me! Could—as you have put the question—could the doors of my wife’s tomb fly open—and could she be restored to me, living, loving, in all the beauty and goodness of her being—could such impossibilities occur—and should the first boon she craved to bless her renewed life be the reconciliation you desire, that boon would be refused, though that refusal should send her back into the grave! Now I hope you understand me thoroughly.” Dr. Hardcastle nodded his head several times, keeping time to his thoughts, as he said, in his heart: “And little do you surmise, poor man, that your refusal will send her back to the grave—for you! That she will be indeed dead—to you!” General Garnet, taking this nod for one of assent, added: