The pew-opener found him sitting there dead, when all had gone away.' 'But the vicar could see into the pew from the pulpit?
The death must have been very peaceful.' 'No, he could not see; the front curtains were drawn.' 'Why was that, I wonder ?' Mrs.Eldon shook her head.
'Are you in pain ?' she asked suddenly.

'Why do you breathe so strangely ?' 'A little pain.

Oh, nothing; I will see Manns to-morrow.' His mother gazed long and steadily into his eyes, and this time he bore her look.
'Mother, you have not kissed me,' he whispered.
'And cannot, dear.

There is too much between us.' His head fell upon her lap.
'Hubert!' He pressed her hand.
'How shall I live when you have gone from me again?
When you say good-bye, it will be as if I parted from you for ever.' Hubert was silent.
'Unless,' she continued--'unless I have your promise that you will no longer dishonour yourself.' He rose from her side and stood in front of the fire; his mother looked and saw that he trembled.
'No promise, Hubert,' she said, 'that you cannot keep.

Rather than that, we will accept our fate, and be nothing to each other.' 'You know very well, mother, that that is impossible.