There was yet room to hope for him.

But, as time went on, there came not back even a faint echo to the voice she had sent after him, her heart failed her again.

Yet time, which imparts strength to all in trouble, had done its work for her also.

The care and labor that ever attend the mother's position among her children, had bent her thoughts so much away from Andrew, that, while his absence left a constant weight upon her feelings, it did not crush them down as before, into a waveless depression.
The second year of Andrew's absence came to a close; but nothing further was heard from him.

And it was the same with the third, fourth, and fifth years.