CHAPTER IX. THE DEATH.

Deathisalwayssudden.Howevergradualmaybeitsapproaches,itis,initseffectsuponthesurvivor,alwayssuddenatlast.Tiffthought,atfirst,thathismistresswasinafainting-fit,andtriedeverymeanstorestoreher.Itwasaffectingtoseehimchafingthethin,white,pearlyhands,inhislarge,rough,blackpawsraisingtheheaduponhisarm,andcallinginathousandtonesoffondendearment,pouringoutaperfecttorrentoflovingdevotiononthecold,unheedingear.But,then,spiteofallhecoulddo,thefacesettleditself,andthehandswouldnotbewarmedthethoughtofdeathstruckhimsuddenly,and,throwinghimselfonthefloorbythebed,heweptwithanexceedingloudandbittercry.Somethinginhisheartrevoltedagainstawakeningthatmanwholayheavilybreathingbyherside.Hewouldnotadmittohimself,atthismoment,thatthismanhadanyrightinher,orthatthesorrowwasanypartofhissorrow.ButthecryawokeCripps,whosatupbewilderedinbed,clearingthehairfromhiseyeswiththebackofhishand. "Tiff,whatthedurnedareyouhowlingabout?" Tiffgotupinamoment,and,swallowingdownhisgriefandhistears,pointedindignantlytothestillfigureonthebed. "Dar!dar!Wouldn'tb'lieveherlastnight!Nowwhatyouthinkofdatar?Seehowyoulooknow!GoodShepherdhearnyouabusingdepoorlamb,andhe'sdonetookherwharyou'llneverseeheragain!" Crippshad,likecoarse,animalmengenerally,astupidandsenselesshorrorofdeath—herecoiledfromthelifelessform,andsprangfromthebedwithanexpressionofhorror. "Well,now,whowouldhavethoughtit?"hesaid."ThatIshouldbeinbedwithacorpse!Ihadn'ttheleastidea!" "No,dat'splainenough,youdidn't!You'llbelieveitnow,won'tyou?Poorlittlelamb,lyingheresufferingallalone!Itellyou,whenfolkshavebeensicksolong,deyhastodietomak