There came a morning at the end of September when Aunt Ann was unable to take from Smither's hands the insignia of personal dignity.

After one look at the old face, the doctor, hurriedly sent for, announced that Miss Forsyte had passed away in her sleep.
Aunts Juley and Hester were overwhelmed by the shock.

They had never imagined such an ending.

Indeed, it is doubtful whether they had ever realized that an ending was bound to come.

Secretly they felt it unreasonable of Ann to have left them like this without a word, without even a struggle.