She grew worse--was no longer able to go out in the carriage, and the family physician went past our house many times during the day on his way to the Hall.
"Old Dinah and my mother were constantly absent attending upon the sick lady, and I was left in charge of a poor woman who came over to the cottage to clean the house, and take care of little Alice, while my mother was away.
"One day my mother came hastily in.

She was flushed with walking fast, and seemed much agitated.

She seized upon me, washed my face and hands, and began dressing me in my Sunday suit.
"'A strange whim this, in a dying woman,' said she, to the neighbour, 'to have such a craze for seeing other people's children.

Giving all this trouble for nothing.' "After a good deal of pushing and shaking she dragged me off with her to the Hall, and I was introduced into the solemn state chamber, where my kind and noble friend was calmly breathing her last.
"Ah, Geoffrey, how well I can recall that parting hour, and the deep impression it made on my mind.

There, beneath that sumptuous canopy, lay the young, the beautiful--still beautiful in death, with Heaven's own smile lighted upon her pale serene face.