For a time she was stunned.

As if her life had rushed to overtake her departing parent, and beg a last embrace, she stood gazing motionless.
The sorrow was too huge for entrance.

The thing could not be! Not until she stooped and kissed the pale face, did the stone in her bosom break, and yield a torrent of grief.

But, although she had left her father in that very spot the night before, already she not only knew but felt that was not he which lay where she had left him.

He was gone, and she was alone.