" He waited for three or four years till he had
secured a fair practice, and then married a clever and handsome young
woman who wrote poems, and had captivated him by telling him a witty
story from Heine. Elizabeth never married.
Thirty years passed, and Jim, now a famous physician, had to go a long
distance down the Great Western Railway to attend a consultation. At
Bath an elderly lady entered the carriage carrying a handbag with the
initials "E. C." upon it. She sat in the seat farthest away from him on
the opposite side, and looked at him steadfastly. He also looked at
her, but no word was spoken for a minute. He then crossed over, fell on
his knees, and buried his head with passionate sobbing on her knees.
She put her hands on him and her tears fell.
"Five years," at last he said; "I may live five years with care. She
has left me. I will give up everything and go abroad with you. Five
years; it is not much, but it will be something, everything. I shall
die with your face over me."
The train was slackening speed for Bristol; she bent down and kissed
him.
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