Mother and daughter watched for some time in silence.

At last Lucia whispered, "May I go and tell Mrs.Bellairs that I shall remain with you ?" "Is she here, then?
Go, rather, and ask her to come to me for a moment." Lucia went, and came to Mrs.Bellairs with such strange gladness in her face that she looked as she had not done for months past.
"Will you go up to mamma ?" she said.

"My father seems to be asleep, and she wishes to see you." And the two went upstairs together without further words.

Mrs.Bellairs feared lest another strange face at the bedside might disturb the dying man; she lingered, therefore, at a little distance, but she, too, looked with wonder at the silent figure lying there in a kind of peaceful state, all unlike the vagrant Indian--the supposed criminal--she had heard of.

Mrs.Costello came to her, and Lucia sat down in her mother's place.
"I brought you a message from William," Mrs.Bellairs said.