Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts; shut not Thy merciful ears to our prayer; but spare us, Lord most holy, O God most mighty, O holy and merciful Saviour, Thou most worthy Judge eternal, suffer us not, at our last hour, for any pains of death, to fall from Thee.
As the handful of earth fell with a sudden thud upon the coffin, the stranger started, seemed to awake to the actualities around him, took a step forward, and looked down into the grave.
Yes; side by side they lay—the two. One looked very grand and new beside the other, though careful hands had polished that and made it passable, to face the light of day.
The inscription on the large brass plate was clearly legible, and left no doubt as to what lay beneath the lid.
NIGEL GUIDO CARDROSS TINTAGEL
Aged 30
Drowned August 12th, 1883.
Greater love hath no man than this: that a
man lay down his life for his friends.
While he pondered these words, in solemn awe and silence, there fell upon his ears the Church’s triumphant promise of Life, which overcomes the grave; of faith, which changes death to life eternal.