Now, if you will allow me, I will explain to you exactly what my footing with her is.

When the Duchess returned, and when I found her to be so ill as she passed through London, I went down with her into the country,--quite as a matter of course." "So I understand." "And there she died,--in my arms.

I will not try to harass you by telling you what those few days were; how absolutely he was struck to the ground, how terrible was the grief of the daughter, how the boys were astonished by the feeling of their loss.

After a few days they went away.

It was, I think, their father's wish that they should go.
And I too was going away,--and had felt, indeed, directly her spirit had parted from her, that I was only in the way in his house.