Three generations

328 MEN AND WOMEN MET BY THE WAY
able to visit her friends; she became yet more of
an invalid ; could only receive them in her chair or
on her couch, a lace cap shading her thin hair ; her
fair skin so transparent that the blue veins could be
seen, but the eyes and mouth were kind and wistful,
and were lit up with the old enthusiasm.
Yet a third poet with whom my personal acquaintance
resolves itself into one or two letters ; the photograph
of a young and pretty woman, a copy of farewell verses,
and a carved ivory card-case, given to me in remem-
brance of a dead friend and her romantically generous
intention. I am writing of Sarah Williams, or " Sadie,"
as she was better known to those who knew and loved
her, and to the public she succeeded in reaching. I
never saw her, though our meeting had been often
planned and talked over. She was the intimate friend
of my publisher, Mr. Strahan, and his sister, with
whom I was on very friendly terms; but, as it hap-
pened, the sole communication between Sadie and me
had been by letters.
Sadie was the only child of a London builder, who
had made a large fortune. She was educated at
Queen's College, where her remarkable talents at-
tracted attention. She had begun writing verses of
great promise — in some instances of more than promise,
but they had as yet only appeared in the stray pages
of magazines.
Mr. Williams died, settling an annuity on his widow,
and bequeathing his fortune to his daughter. No
prospects could have been brighter than hers, and
few people were better qualified to use their fulfil-
ment well and enjoy it keenly, when very soon it was
found that she had developed cancer, and only an
operation could save her life. She consented to the