'THEY HAVE BLACKENED HIS MEMORY FALSELY' I loved having Jill with me, but I could not deny to myself or other people that I found her a great responsibility.

In the first place, I had so little leisure to devote to her, for just after Christmas I was unusually busy.

Poor Mrs.Marshall died on the eve of the New Year, and both Mr.Hamilton and I feared that Elspeth would soon follow her.
A hard frost had set in, and granny's feeble strength seemed to succumb under the pressure of the severe cold; she had taken to her bed, and lay there growing weaker every day.

Poor Mary had died very peacefully, with her hand in her husband's.

I had been with her all day, and I did not leave until it was all over.
Jill was as good as gold, and helped me with Elspeth and the children, and she always spent an hour or two with Robin; but by and by she began asking to go up to Gladwyn of her own accord, or proposing to have tea with Mrs.Maberley.
'Of course I would prefer to stop with you, Ursie dear,' she said affectionately; 'I would rather talk to you than to any one else; but then, you see, you are never at home, and when you do come in, poor darling, you are so tired that you are only fit for a nap.' And I could not deny that this was the truth.