On earth that light had set, but in heaven it was dawning never to set again.
For some few weeks the family remained all together, as far at least as Arthur's ministerial duties permitted.

Mr.Hamilton wished much to see that living, now vacant by the death of his son, transferred to Myrvin, and he exerted himself towards effecting an exchange.

Ere, however, Percy could return to the Continent, or Emmeline return to her husband's home, the sudden and alarming illness of Mrs.Hamilton detained them both at Oakwood.

The fever which had been raging in the village, and which had hastened the death of Herbert, had also entered the household of Mrs.Hamilton.Resolved that no affliction of her own should interfere with those duties of benevolence, to exercise which was her constant practice, Mrs.Hamilton had compelled herself to exertion beyond the strength of a frame already wearied and exhausted by long-continued but forcibly-suppressed anxiety, and three weeks after the death of her son she too was stretched on a bed of suffering, which, for the first few days during the violence of the fever, her afflicted family believed might also be of death.

In this trying time, it was to Ellen that not only her cousin but even her uncle turned, by her example to obtain more control and strength.