The young man was sent by his Sovereign

    "Yes, it has been given to us," said the young wife, "but this

life is nothing more than one long scene of trial and hardship to many

thousands. How many have been cast into this world only to endure

poverty, shame, illness, and misfortune? If there were no future life,

everything here would be too unequally divided, and God would not be

the personification of justice."

    "The beggar there," said her husband, "has joys of his own which

seem to him great, and cause him as much pleasure as a king would find

in the magnificence of his palace. And then do you not think that

the beast of burden, which suffers blows and hunger, and works

itself to death, suffers just as much from its miserable fate? The

dumb creature might demand a future life also, and declare the law

unjust that excludes it from the advantages of the higher creation."

    "Christ said: 'In my father's house are many mansions,'" she

answered. "Heaven is as boundless as the love of our Creator; the dumb

animal is also His creature, and I firmly believe that no life will be

lost, but each will receive as much happiness as he can enjoy, which

will be sufficient for him."

    "This world is sufficient for me," said the husband, throwing

his arm round his beautiful, sweet-tempered wife. He sat by her side

on the open balcony, smoking a cigarette in the cool air, which was

loaded with the sweet scent of carnations and orange blossoms.

Sounds of music and the clatter of castanets came from the road

beneath, the stars shone above then, and two eyes full of affection-

those of his wife- looked upon him with the expression of undying

love. "Such a moment," he said, "makes it worth while to be born, to

die, and to be annihilated!" He smiled- the young wife raised her hand

in gentle reproof, and the shadow passed away from her mind, and

they were happy- quite happy.

    Everything seemed to work together for their good. They advanced

in honour, in prosperity, and in happiness. A change came certainly,

but it was only a change of place and not of circumstances.

    The young man was sent by his Sovereign as ambassador to the

Russian Court. This was an office of high dignity, but his birth and

his acquirements entitled him to the honour. He possessed a large

fortune, and his wife had brought him wealth equal to his own, for she

was the daughter of a rich and respected merchant. One of this

merchant's largest and finest ships was to be sent that year to

Stockholm, and it was arranged that the dear young couple, the

daughter and the son-in-law, should travel in it to St. Petersburg.

All the arrangements on board were princely and silk and luxury on

every side.