Those two were the greatest of friends. Their chief relaxation was
one another's company, and their earnest aim was to support the
Christian mission, and to keep up the tone of their English
dependants, a terribly difficult matter, and one that made the time
of their return somewhat doubtful, even when Walter Castleford was
gone out to relieve them. Their health had kept up so well that we
had ceased to be anxious on that point, and it was through the
Castlefords that we received the first hint that Clarence might not
be as well as his absence of complaint had led us to believe.
In fact he had never been well since a terrible tempest, when he had
worked hard and exposed himself to save life. I never could hear
the particulars, for Lawrence was away, and Clarence could not write
about it himself, having been prostrated by one of those chills so
perilous in hot countries; but from all I have heard, no resident in
Hong-Kong would have believed that Mr. Winslow's courage could ever
have been called in question. He ought to have come home
immediately after that attack of fever; for the five years were
over, and his work nearly done; but there was need to consolidate
his achievements, and a strong man is only too apt to trifle with
his health. We might have guessed something by the languor and
brevity of his letters, but we thought the absence of detail owing
to his expectation of soon seeing us; and had gone on for months
expecting the announcement of a speedy return, when an unexpected
shock fell on us.
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