CHAPTER X. THE PREPARATION.

lness,forthatcreaturehasn'toneparticleofselfishnessinhim.Hejustidentifieshimselfwithhismistressandherchildren." BythistimeTiffhadperceivedtheirapproach,andcameouttoassistthemindismounting. "DeLordaboveblessyou,MissGordon,forcomingtoseemypoormissis!Ah!sheislyingderejustasbeautiful,justasshewastheverydayshewasmarried!AllheryounglookscomebacktoherandMilly,shedonelaidheroutbeautiful!Lord,I'swantingsomebodytocomeandlookather,becauseshehasgotgoodblood,ifshebepoor.Sheisnoneofyourcommonsortofpoorwhites,MissNina.Justcomeincomein,andlookather." Ninasteppedintotheopendoorofthehut.Thebedwascoveredwithacleanwhitesheet,andthebody,arrayedinalongwhitenight-dressbroughtbyMilly,laytheresoverystill,quiet,andlife-like,thatonecouldscarcelyrealizethepresenceofdeath.Theexpressionofexhaustion,fatigue,andanxiety,whichthefacehadlatterlyworn,hadgivenplacetooneoftenderrest,shadedbyasortofmysteriousawe,asiftheclosedeyeswerelookingonunutterablethings.Thesoul,thoughsunkbelowthehorizonofexistence,hadthrownbackatwilightuponthefaceradiantasthatoftheeveningheavens. Bytheheadofthebedthelittlegirlwassitting,dressedcarefully,andhercurlinghairpartedinfront,apparentlyfreshfromthebrushandthelittleboywassittingbesideher,hisroundblueeyesbearinganexpressionofsubduedwonder. Crippswassittingatthefootofthebed,evidentlymuchtheworseforliquorfor,spiteoftheexhortationofTiff,hehadappliedtothewhiskey-jugimmediatelyonhisdeparture.Whynot?Hewasuncomfortable—gloomyandeveryone,undersuchcircumstances,naturallyinclinestowardssomesourceofconsolation.Hewhoisintellectualreadsandstudieshewhoisindustriousfliestobusinesshewhoisaffectionateseeksfriendshewhoispious,religionbuthewhoisnoneofthese—whathashebuthiswhiskey?Crippsmadeastupid,staringinclinationtowardNinaandHarry,astheyentered,andsatstill,twirlinghisthumbsandmutteringtohimself. Thesunshinefellthroughthepanesonthefloor,andtherecamefloatinginfromwithouttheodorofflowersandthesongofbirds.AlltheFather'sgentlemessengersspokeofcomfortbutheasadeafmanheardnot—asablindmandidnotregard.Fortherest,anairofneatnesshadbeenimpartedtotheextremepovertyoftheroombythejointeffortsofMillyandTiff. Tiffenteredsoftly,andstoodbyNina,asshegazed.Hehadinhishandseveralspraysofwhitejessamine,andhelaidoneonthebosomofthedead. "Shehadahardwalkofit,"hesaid,"butshe'sgothome!Don'tshelookpeaceful?—poorlamb!" Thelittle,thoughtless,gaycoquettehadneverlookedonasightlikethisbefore.Shestoodwithafixed,tenderthoughtfulness,unlikeherusualgayety,herriding-hathangingcarelesslybyitsstringsfromherhands,herloosehairdroopingoverherface. Sheheardsomeoneenteringthecottage,butshedidnotlookup.Shewasconsciousofsomeonelookingoverhershoulder,andthoughtitwasHarry. "Poorthing!howyoungshelooks,"shesaid,"tohavehadsomuchtrouble!"Hervoicetrembled,andatearstoodinhereye.Therewasasuddenmovementshelookedup,andClaytonwasstandingbyher. Shelookedsurprised,andthecolordeepenedinhercheek,butwastooingenuouslyandreallyinsympathywiththescenebeforehereventosmile.Sheretainedhishandamoment,andturnedtothedead,saying,inanunder-tone,"Seehere!" "Isee,"hesaid."CanIbeofservice?" "Thepoorthingdiedlastnight,"saidNina."Isupposesomeonemighthelpaboutafuneral.Harry,"shesaid,walkingsoftlytowardsthedoor,andspeakinglow,"youprovideacoffinhaveitmadeneatly." "Uncle,"shesaid,motioningTifftowardsher,"wherewouldtheyhaveherburied?" "Buried?"saidTiff."OLord!buried!"Andhecoveredhisfacewithhishardhands,andthetearsranthroughhisfingers. "Lord,Lord!Well,itmustcome,Iknow,