"It is coming so easily, so surely." And she paused, with her mild gaze always on Eugenia's.
The Baroness hated to be reminded of death; but even in its imminence, so far as Mrs.Acton was concerned, she preserved her good manners.

"Ah, madame, you are too charming an invalid," she rejoined.
But the delicacy of this rejoinder was apparently lost upon her hostess, who went on in her low, reasonable voice.

"I want to leave my children bright and comfortable.

You seem to me all so happy here--just as you are.

So I wish you could stay.