She looked very pale, and she told her niece to be composed; for Aunt Becky had a theory that feelings ought to be commanded, and that it only needed effort and resolution.

So she read the note, holding her head very high, but the muscles of her face were quivering.
'Oh! Gertrude, if ever there was an angel--and the poor desolate old man----' The theory broke down, and old Aunt Rebecca cried and sat down, and cried heartily, and went and put her thin arms round her niece, and kissed her, and cried, and cried, and kissed her again.
'She was such--such a darling--oh! Gertrude dear, we must never quarrel any more.' Death had come so near, and all things less than itself were rebuked in that sublime presence; and Lily Walsingham was gone; and she who was so lately their gay companion, all at once so awfully angelic in the unearthly light of death.
'Who'd ha' thought it was so near, Ma'am,' said the maid; 'the poor little thing! Though to be sure, Ma'am, a winding sheet came three times in the candle last night, and I turns it round and picks it off, that way, with my nail, unknownst to Mrs.Heany, for fear she'd be frettin' about the little boy that's lyin' at home in the small-pox; and indeed I thought 'twas for him it was; but man proposes, and God disposes--and death forgets none, the Lord be praised--and everyone has their hour, old and young, Ma'am; and as I was sayin', they had no notion or expectation up at the Elms, Ma'am, she was so bad, the heavens be her bed this night.

'Twas all in an instant like, Miss, she made as if she'd sit up, bein' leanin' on pillows--and so she put out them purty little hands of hers, with a smile, and that was all--the purty crature--everyone's sorry afther her.

The man was cryin' in the hall that brought the note.' The poor came to the door, and made their rude and kindly lamentations--they were all quite sincere--'His reverence was very good, but he couldn't have the thought, you know.' It was quite true--'everyone was sorry.' The brave Magnolia's eyes were red, when she looked out of the window next morning, and jolly little Doctor Toole said at the club-- 'Ah, Sir, she was a bright little thing--a born lady--such a beauty--and the best little creature.

The town might well be proud of her, in every way, Sir.' And he fell a blubbering; and old Major O'Neill, who was a quiet and silent officer, cried in a reserved way, looking into the fire, with his elbow on the mantelpiece.