Harriet was looking up at the priest, whom she saw as the friend of
the man she loved. "And you will come back and marry us yourself,
won't you?" she asked.

He was looking down at her. Even after the long night, in the cold
light of a winter dawn, and in the garishness of an evening gown in
daylight, she was triumphantly beautiful. With her hand on the smooth
brown hand of the Major, she sat and looked up at the cassocked
priest. The marble of her face had given way to a divine light and
radiance.

He looked down on her.

"I will come," he told her.

It was some hours before he was back. The young doctor had gone and
come. Dawn had broadened into a grey and sullen day. Breakfast was
sent up and placed in an adjoining room for Harriet and Alexina. The
girl tried to eat, if only to seem grateful to the Sister bringing it,
but Harriet wandered about the room, and, when Alexina brought her a
cup of coffee, shook her head. She watched the door until the doctors
were gone and she might return to him, then went in and sat by him
again. His eyes were closed, but his hand, seeking as she sat down,
found hers. Later, as the priest returned, the gaze from the pillow
turned to the door eagerly. Austen was not with him. The face steeled.

The Mother came in, and at a sign from the priest they gathered
around, Alexina, the young doctor, the nurse.

With his hand in Harriet's the Major followed to the end.

Nor was he going to die. There was deeper knowledge of life yet for
the woman by him to learn.

Afterward, Doctor Ransome drove Alexina home in his buggy, where she
and the voluble, excited Katy packed some things for Harriet.

"And Miss Harriet never to let us hear a word, and Maggie and me
never closing our eyes all the night, Miss Alexina," Katy said.

And Harriet Blair a person usually so observant and punctilious about
everything!

"And Mr. Blair, he asked where you were, Miss Harriet and you, when he
came, and then he dressed and went to the party he was going to take
you to, as if nothing had happened. And the Father came this morning
and talked, but Mr. Blair hardly said a word, and when they left the
priest went one way and Mr. Blair he went the other."

Doctor Ransome came in his buggy and took Alexina back. On reaching
the infirmary they found that Major Rathbone's sister from Bardstown,
who had been sent for, had arrived. Alexina had not known that he had
a sister until she found her in the room next