At last Richard came to them, as they were wandering in the garden, and, with his usual stillness of manner, shaded with additional seriousness, said, "Would you like to come into the study ?" Etheldred put one hand into his, Norman took the other, and soon they stood in that calm presence.

Fair, cold, white, and intensely still--that face brought home to them the full certainty that the warm brightening look would never beam on them, the soft blue eyes never guide, check, and watch them, the smile never approve or welcome them.
To see her unconscious of their presence was too strange and sad, and all were silent, till, as they left the room, Ethel looked out at Blanche and Aubrey in the garden.

"They will never remember her! Oh! why should it be ?" Richard would fain have moralised and comforted, but she felt as if she knew it all before, and heard with languid attention.

She had rather read than talk, and he sat down to write letters.
There were no near relations to be sent for.

Dr.May was an only son, and his wife's sister, Mrs.Arnott, was in New Zealand; her brother had long been dead, and his widow, who lived in Edinburgh, was scarcely known to the May family.